ertain  Aborigina 


OF  THE 


GEORGIA  COAST 


CLARENCE  B.  MOORE 


BY  THE 


MARQUIS  DE  NADAILLAC 


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JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PHILAD.,    2ND    SER..    VOL.    XI. 


FRONTISPIECE. 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST   MOUNDS. 


CERTAIN 


ABORIGINAL  MOUNDS 


OF   THE 


GEORGIA  COAST 


BY 


CLARENCE    B.  MOORE. 


REPRINT    FROM  THE   JOURNAL  OF   THE   ACADEMY   OF    NATURAL 

SCIENCES   OF    PHILADELPHIA,  VOLUME  ;XI. 

PHILADELPHIA,    1897. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

P.   C.  STOCKHAUSEN, 

1897- 


rttti 


PREFACE. 


Our  thanks  are  tendered  tor  material  assistance  in  this  work  to  the  Marquis  de 
Nadaillac,  to  Dr.  E.  Goldsmith,  and  to  Professors  Putnam,  Holmes  and  Pilshry. 
Our  acknowledgments  are  due  also  for  the  aid  extended  hy  our  lamented  friend,  the 
late  Professor  Cope. 

Again  we  have  to  thank  Dr.  M.  (».  Miller  lor  continuous  assistance  in  the  field 
and  in  the  preparation  of  this  report. 

.June,  1897.  C.   B.   M. 


1 1 5640 


CHATHAM 


B    R     Y 


MAP  OF  THE  GEORGIA  COAST 

Scale  in  m  iles. 

I     2    3    »    -f if 

1897 
\indicates  amot^nd. 


JOURNAL 


OF 


THE  ACADEMY  OF  NATURAL  SCIENCES 


OF    PHILADELPHIA. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL  MOUNDS 

OF    THE 

GEORGIA   COAST, 


CLARENCE  B.    MOORE. 


Of 

^ki'-n    I 


As  tha  reader  is  aware,  an  inland  passage  by  water,  parallel  to  the  ocean, 
enables  vessels  of  light  draft  to  traverse  the  entire  coast  of  Georgia  without  ven 
turing  to  sea  or  incurring  risk  greater  than  the  minimum  one  of  crossing  certain 
sounds  at  a  distance  from  the  open  water. 

This  marine  highway,  shown  on  ordinary  maps,  is  connected  with  a  network 
of  waterways  and  tributary  streams,  many  appearing  on  sectional  charts  alone.1 
enclosing  considerable  fertile  territory  suitable  for  living  sites,  and  great  tracts  of 
low-lying  marsh. 

Fish  and  oysters  are  abundant  in  this  region,  and  were  doubtless  still  more  so 
in  early  times,  but  great  deposits2  of  oyster  shells  are  not  so  numerous  as  on  the 

1  U.  S.  Government  Charts,  Nos.  15<i,  157,  158. 

2  The  circular  enclosure  on  Sapelo  Island  and  a  great  causeway  on  Bill-hour's  Island  are  the  only 
shell  deposits  of  importance  met  with  by  us  on  the  Georgia  coast.     A  considerable  shell  deposit  on  St. 
Simon  Island  has  been  reported.     AVe  have  not  seen  it. 

1  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


<i       CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE    GEORGIA    COAST. 


Florida  coast,  nor  do  thi'v  compare  in  size  with  the  great  heaps  of  fresh-water  shells 
so  noticeable  on  the  St.  .Johns  River. 

Before  proceeding  to  a  detailed  description  of  certain  coast  mounds  of  Georgia, 
we  wish  to  point  out  that  it  has  not  been  our  intention  to  investigate  each  mound 
included  within  the  limits  of  the  entire  territory,  as  we  have  done  on  the  St.  -Johns 
and  the  Ocklawaha  Rivers.  Florida,  hut  rather,  by  demolishing  a  considerable  num 
ber,  to  give  a  general  idea  of  the  aboriginal  earth-works  of  the  territory  bordering 
the  Georgia  coast. 

Five  months  of  continual  work  have  been  devoted  by  us  to  the  coast  mounds 
of  Georgia,  during  which  time  most  of  the  territory  has  again  and  again  been 
traversed  bv  steam  motive  power,  so  that  but  little  time  has  been  consumed  in 
transit.  A  lew  important  mounds  still  remain  unexamined,  through  no  fault  of 
ours,  however,  notably  at  the  north  end  of  Ossabaw  Island  and  on  the  islands  of 
St.  Simon  and  Sapelo. 

But  little  work  has  been  previously  done  among  the  mounds  of  the  Georgia 
coast.  The  late  Col.  C.  C.  Jones,  whose  interesting  work1  we  have  largely  consulted, 
occasionally  refers  to  certain  objects  as  derived  from  coast  mounds,  but  nowhere 
makes  reference  to  any  systematic  explorations.2  The  territory  is  virtually  a  new 

»/          »/  *-'  •/ 

one  for  the  archaeologist,  though  relic  hunters  have  at  times  left  traces  of  their  work 

in   the  shape  of  comparatively  small  trenches  or  superficial  excavations   near  the 

summits  of  certain  mounds. 

Before  proceeding  to  a  detailed  description  of  our  mound  work  it  may  be  well 

to  make  clear  to  the  lay  reader  certain  terms  frequently  to  be  used  by  us. 

The  "bunched"  burial,  which  we  found   to  predominate  in  Florida  when   the 

condition  of  the   bones   made  determination   possible,  is  present   also   in   the  coast 

mounds  of  Georgia,  though  to  a  much  more 
limited  extent.  This  method  of  interment 
consisted  of  bunching  together  a  number  of 
bones ;  sometimes  the  skull  and  long  bones 
of  one  individual  with  perhaps  some  of  the 
smaller  bones,  wr  in  others,  taking  parts  of 
the  skeletons  «|  two  or  three  individuals 
and  burying  them  in  a  heap  together.  The 
exposure  of  the  dead  body  until  deprived 
of  flesh,  prior  to  inhumation,  was  a  common 
aboriginal  custom.  In  Fig.  1  we  give  a 
representation  of  a  typical  bunched  burial. 
In  the  Georgia  coast  mounds  the  burial 
in  anatomical  order  exceeded  all  others, 

though  it  is  not  unlikely  that  many  at  least  of  the  skeletons  had  suffered  exposure 

1  "  Antiquities  of  the  Southern  Indians." 

2  See  also  "A  Primitive  Urn  Burial,"  Smithsonian  Report,  1XSH),  p.  009  e1  *«].,  by  Dr.  J.  F. 
Snyder,  in  relation  to  Southern  Georgia. 


Fig.  1.  — A  "bunched"  burial.     (Xot  on  scale.) 


(JKRTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   TIIK    GEORGIA   COAST.       7 

previous  to  inhumation  hut  \vciv  held  togi  ther  by  ligaments  when  placed  in  the 
sand.  Occasionally,  some  hone  or  hones  in  a  position  not  to  be  accounted  Cor  under 
the  hypothesis  of  shifting  sand,  testifies  to  this. 

Of  the  burials   in   anatomical  order,  the   '-flexed"   burial   predominates.     This 
form   consists  in   placing  the  remains  usually  on  the  right  or  on  the  left  side  and 


^Slfe 

^,  Sfe 


Fig.  2. — A  "  flexed"  burial.     (Xot  on  scale.) 

drawing  the  knees  and  chin  well  together  with  the  legs  drawn  up  almost  parallel 
to  the  thighs.  The  arms  occupy  almost  any  position  except  an  extended  one. 
This  form  of  burial  doubtless  recommended  itself  through  economy  of  space, — a 
Hexed  skeleton  calling  ibr  a  grave  not  much  over  three  feet  in  length.  Fig.  2 
shows  a  typical  ''Hexed"  burial. 

In  determination  of  sex  there   have   been   consulted   the   conformation   of  the 
forehead,  the  glabella,  the  superciliary  ridges,   the   thickness  of  the   outer   upper 


Fig.  3. — Sherd  with  ornamentation  of  circular  impressions.     (Full  size.) 

margin  of  the  orbit,  the  character  of  the  facial  bones,  the  muscular  marking  of  the 
temporal  region,  size  of  mastoid  process,  size  of  external  occipital  protuberance  and 
muscular  markings  in  its  vicinity,  character  of  lower  jaw,  size  of  mental  promi 
nences,  form  of  clavicle,  size  and  muscular  markings  of  the  bones  in  general. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE    GEORGIA  COAST. 

Age,  when  stated,  was  based  upon  an  examination  of  the  teeth  and  sometimes 
of  the  epiphyses.  When  not  otherwise  stated  in  our  descriptions,  the  skeleton  is 
that  of  an  adult. 

All  anatomical  determinations  have  been  made  by  Dr.  M.  G.  Miller,  who  has 
been  present  during  all  our  field  work  in  Georgia  and  in  Florida. 


Fig.  4.  —  Sherd  with  button-like  decoration.     (Full  size.) 


We  shall  see  that  burials  of  infants  in  some  localities,  of  adults  in  others,  \vere 
in  large  jars  made  of  clay  tempered  with  gravel,1  almost  invariably  of  the  same 
type,  consisting  of  a  rounded  base,  an  almost  cylindrical  body,  a  slightly  constricted 


-.  w-vf.wa 

\f^ 

'•^'^-J^*    €    •    ,  ,••;•?£    '.,*/ 


Fig.  5. — Sherd  showing  loss  of  decoration.     (Full  size.)  • 

neck  and  a  flaring  rim,  whose  margin  was  exteriorly  decorated  with  circular  im 
pressions,  contiguous  or  nearly  so,  doubtless  of  a  section  of  a  reed  (Fig.  o),  or  with 
button-like  ornaments  some  distance  apart,  made  separately  and  impressed  before 
baking  (Fig.  4),  and  which  sometimes  are  seen  to  have  fallen  from  their  places,  as 
1  Termed  gritty  ware.  Thin  ware  forms  the  majority  of  that  found  on  the  Georgia  coast. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOl'NDS   OF   THE    (JEOR(JIA   COAST.       !) 


shown  in  Fig.  -r) ;  or  with  an  encircling  hand  impressed  at  intervals  (Fig.  (i).  The 
decoration  of  the  hody  and  neck  of  these  vessels  is  usually  a  complicated  stamped 
pattern  so  well  known  in  Georgia  and  in  Carolina. 

One  of  these  hurial  jars  (various  forms  were  used  for  cremated  remains)  is 
shown  in  Plate  IX. 

The  late  Col.  C.  C.  Jones  describes    tour  similar  vessels,  all   containing   infant 


g.  (>. — Sherd  showing  hand  with  impressions.     (Full  size.) 

remains,  as  coming  from  mounds  of  the  Georgia  coast.'  We  shall  not  again  go  into 
a  detailed  description  of  this  form  of  vessel,  but  shall  refer  to  it  as  the  common, 
or  ordinary  type. 

The  reader  will  observe  that  considerable  care  has  been  taken  in  referring  to, 
or  in  describing,  vessels  of  shell  or  of  earthenware,  to  note  whether  or  not  they 
were  imperforate  as  to  the  base.  This,  it  max  be  well  to  explain  to  some,  has 
been  done  in  reference  to  a  custom  obtaining  to  a  considerable  extent  in  Florida 
where  vessels  placed  with  the  dead  often  had  the  bottom  knocked  out.  the  base 
perforated,  or  a  hole  made  in  the  base  at  the  time  of  manufacture,  presumably  "  to 
kill"  the  vessel  to  free  its  soul  to  accompany  that  of  the  dead  person.  This  curious 
custom  has  been  regarded  as  peculiar  to  Florida,  but  it  is  interesting  to  note  a  pos 
sible  observance  of  it  to  a  limited  extent  in  the  mounds  of  the  Georgia  coast.  It  is 
well  to  note,  however,  that  in  cinerary  urns,  perforation  of  base  is  never  met  with. 

Mounds  Investigated. 
Fairview,  Camden  County  (2).  Crescent,  Mclntosh  County. 


Woodbine,  Camden  County. 
Owen's  Ferry,  Camden  County. 
Brunswick.  Glynn  County  ("2). 
Lawton's  Field.  Darien.  Mclntosh  Co.  (•'!). 
Townsend  Mound.  Darien,  Mclntosh  Co. 
Cat  Head  Creek,  Darien,  Mclntosh  Co. 
--The  Thicket."  Mclntosh  County  (I'.). 
Shell  Bluff.  Mclntosh  County. 
Creighton  Island,  Mclntosh  County  (2). 
Hopkins  Mound,  Belleville.  Mclntosh  Co. 

1  "  Antiquities  of  the  Southern  Indians,"  p.  45fi. 


Walker  Mound.  Mclntosh  County. 
Contentment,  Mclntosh  County. 
Broro  Neck.  Mclntosh  County  (2). 
Sapelo  Island.  Mclntosh  County  (o). 
Bahama,  Mclntosh  County  (2). 
Laurel  View,  Mclntosh  County  (2). 
St.  Catherine's  Island,  Liberty  Co.  (7). 
Ossabaw  Island.  Bryan  County  (U). 
Skiddaway  Island,  Chatham  County  (o). 


10     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE    GEORGIA   COAST. 

Low  Morxi)  AT  FAIKVIKW,  CAMDEN  COUNTY. 

Fairview,  the  property  of  Captain  W.  F.  Bailey,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  lor 
courteous  permission  to  investigate,  lies  on  the  bank  of  Marianna  Creek  which 
empties  into  Kings  Bay,  Cumberland  Sound. 

The  mound,  in  a  cultivated  field,  had  a  diameter  of  base  of  38  feet,  a  height 
of  2  feet  8  inches,  though  a  large  stump  remaining  on  the  mound  gave-  evidence  of 
a  loss  of  about  1  foot  additional  height  through  the  agency  of  the  plow. 

The  mound  was  completely  demolished. 

The  closest  examination  of  the  structure  of  this  mound  seemed  to  indicate  that 
the  usual  pit,  made  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  mound,  was  wanting,  and  that  the 
mound,  composed  of  loamy  brown  sand  and  unstratified,  had  been  erected  upon  the 
undisturbed  level  ground. 

There  were  no  marginal  burials.  In  addition  to  fragmentary  bones,  thrown  up 
by  the  plow,  human  remains  were  met  with  at  seven  points. 

One  and  one-half  feet  from  the  surface  and  10  feet  from  the  northwestern 
margin  of  the  mound  was  the  flexed  skeleton  of  a  child,  in  anatomical  order. 

An  adult  skeleton,  showing  the  same  form  of  burial,  lay  2  feet  from  the  surface. 

One  foot  down  was  a  deposit  of  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones  beneath  a 
local  layer  of  oyster  shells.  With  the  remains  lay  a  sheet  copper  ornament  with 
repousse  decoration. 

A  burial,  well  in  toward  the  center,  had  seemingly  its  full  quota  of  bones,  and 
the  lower  portion  of  the  skeleton  lay  in  anatomical  order.  The  cranium,  however, 
was  upside  down ;  the  mandible  'lay  on  its  side,  embracing  one  bone  of  the  forearm 
and  two  ribs.  In  all  probability  ligaments  held  together  a  part  of  this  skeleton  at 
the  time  of  its  removal  to  the  mound.  Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the 
custom  formerly  obtaining  with  many  of  the  southern  Indians,  namely,  the  exposure 
of  the  body  for  a  certain  time  previous  to  interment.  Juan  Ortiz,  a  member  of  a 
former  expedition,  rescued  by  De  Soto,  had  been  accorded  by  his  captors  the  task 
of  keeping  carnivorous  wild  animals  from  remains  thus  exposed. 

About  2.o  feet  down,  just  above  a  thin  layer  of  calcined  oyster  shells  extending 
several  feet  beyond,  were  the  bones  of  a  young  infant.  With  them  were  many  shell 
beads  of  various  sizes. 

At  another  point  lay  a  deposit  of  calcined  bits  of  bone,  some  certainly  human, 
all  probably  so. 

Almost  in  the  center  of  the  mound  were  parts  of  a  skeleton,  considerably 
scattered.  A  small  hole  apparently  had  been  dug  previously  at  this  point,  causing 
a  disarrangement  of  the  bones. 

Sherds  were  limited  in  number,  about  one  dozen  being  met  with,  the  majority 
plain  though  several  bore  a  complicated  stamped  decoration. 

With  the  exception  of  two  or  three  bits  of  chert  the  mound  yielded  nothing- 
farther  of  interest. 


CURTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   TIIK    (IKORCJIA   COAST.      II 

Low  Morxi)  NKAK   FAIKVIKW,  CA.MDKN  COUNTY. 

In  [line1  woods,  about  one-quarter  of  a  mile  in  a  northerly  direction  from  the 
preceding  mound,  on  property  of  Mr.  Robert  II.  Frohoek,  to  whom  our  acknowledge 
ments  for  permission  to  dig.  are  herewith  tendered,  was  a  mound  "2  feet  •">  inches  in 
height  and  )>4  feet  across  the  base. 

The  northern  half  was  completely  dug  through.  Considerable  charcoal  and 
fireplaces  lay  seemingly  on  the  base. 

Several  bunched  burials  and  fragments  of  human  bones  were  met  with  at 
various  points.  Nothing  in  the  way  of  art  relics  was  encountered  with  the  excej)- 
tion  of  about  one-half  of  a  small  and  gracefully-shaped  vessel  of  earthenware  and 
several  sherds,  most  of  which  bore  an  incised  cross-hatched  decoration. 

MOUND  NKAK  WOODBINE,  CAMDKX  COUNTY. 

About  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  a  westerly  direction  from  the  town  of 
Woodbine  near  the  Satilla  river,  is  Bedell's  Landing.  About  one-quarter  of  a 
mile  south  of  the  landing  is  a  very  symmetrical  mound  4  feet  9  inches  in  height 
and  40  feet  across  the  base.  A  number  of  large  hickories  are  on  the  eastern  side 
and  these  were  left  standing  through  a  natural  desire  on  the  part  of  the  owner  of 
the  large  plantation  on  which  the  mound  is  situated  to  preserve  the  earthwork  as 
a  landmark.  About  two-thirds  of  the  cubic  contents  of  the  mound  were  displaced 
and  subsequently  returned,  leaving  the  mound  in  appearance  as  we  found  it. 

Our  thanks  are  tendered  to  Mr.  .1.  K.  Bedell,  the  owner,  for  full  permission  to 
investigate,  a  courtesy  which,  considering  the  proximity  of  the  mound  to  his  home 
stead,  might  have  reasonably  been  declined. 

The  mound  was  composed  of  light-brownish  sand  with  a  slight  admixture  of 
clay.  A  vertical  section  of  the  mound  from  the  summit  plateau  to  where  traces  of 
human  handiwork  came  to  an  end.  had  a  height  of  li  feet. 

The  usual  fireplaces  and  admixture  of  charcoal  with  the  sand  were  encountered. 
The  mound  had  probably  at  an  earlier  period  lost  somewhat  in  height  and  had  been 
considerably  disturbed  within  recent  years  through  use  as  a  place  for  burial.  In 
fact,  at  the  present  time,  but  o;")  yards  distant,  are  numerous  graves  dating  from  the 
last  half  of  the  present  century,  and  several  intrusive  burials,  doubtless  of  this 
period,  were  discovered  in  the  mound.  One  skeleton,  the  bones  of  which  still  had 
a  raw  appearance,  had,  near  the  pelvis,  two  brass  buttons  apparently  belonging  to 
an  old  fashioned  "dress  coat,  while  another  had  iron  nails,  probably  belonging  to 
the  coffin,  in  dost'  proximity.  The  intrusive  skeletons  were  buried  at  length  and 
considerable  care  had  been  bestowed  in  the  arrangement  of  the  bodies,  in  one 
instance  the  hands  being  folded  at  the  waist. 

Original  burials  numbered  about  two  dozen  and  were  so  badly  decayed  that  in 
the  case  of  some  the  method  of  interment  was  not  determinable.  When  unmis 
takably  identified  as  to  position  the  bones  were  found  in  anatomical  order.  The 
bodies  had  been  variously  Hexed.  These  interments  were  found  from  !.•">  feet  from 


ll>     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA    COAST. 

the  surface  to  a  depth  of  (>  feet.      In  some  eases  local  layers  of  sand  dyed  with  the 
red  oxide  of  iron  lay  immediately  above  the  bones. 

At  two  points  in  the  mound  were  pockets  made  up  of  fragments  of  calcined 
human  bones.  In  the  mounds  of  Florida  such  pockets  are  sometimes  found  though 
cremation  was  not,  so  far  as  our  experience  extends,  largely  practised  there.  We 
shall  see  later  to  how  considerable  an  extent  this  form  of  burial  was  in  vogue  among 
the  aborigines  of  the  Georgia  coast. 

EARTHENWARE. 

Sherds  were  very  infrequent  and  probably  of  accidental  introduction,  none 
lying  with  human  remains.  They  were,  as  a  rule,  undecorated,  though  the  compli 
cated  form  of  stamp,  so  well  known  in  Georgia,  was  present. 

No  vessels  of  earthenware  were  encountered. 

In  a  central  portion  of  the  mound,  5  feet  from  the  surface,  near  human  remains, 
was  an  undecorated  tobacco  pipe  of  earthenware,  of  a  type  common  to  the  mounds 
of  the  lower  thirty  miles  of  the  St.  Johns  river  and  other  sections,  where  the  aper 
ture  for  the  stem  rivals  that  of  the  bowl  in  size.  We  have  figured  '  a  pipe  of  this 
type  in  our  account  of  the  mound  at  Point  La  Vista,  Duval  County,  Florida. 

STONE. 

A  graceful  lance-point  of  chert  lay  with  a  skeleton  about  4  feet  from  the  surface. 

Two  polished  "celts"  lay  with  burials  1  foot  and  2.5  feet  from  the  surface, 
respectively. 

A  small  hammer-stone  and  a  portion  of  a  pebble  were  with  the  pipe  to  which 
reference  has  been  made. 

Loose  in  the  sand  was  an  arrowhead  of  chert. 

SHELL. 

Loose  in  the  sand,  throughout  the  mound,  were  several  conchs  (Fulgur]  and 
fragments  of  conchs. 

Upon  a  number  of  occasions  shell  beads  lay  with  the  burials. 

A  little  over  one  foot  below  the  surface,  over  the  ribs  of  the  skeleton  of  a  child, 
was  a  gorget  of  shell,  irregularly  oval  in  form,  4.5  inches  by  5.5  inches.  Near  the 
upper  margin  is  a  perforation  for  suspension.  A  companion  to  this  perforation  had 
apparently  been  destroyed  by  a  blow  from  a  spade,  received  at  the  time  of  discovery. 
The  concave  surface  of  this  gorget  shows  traces  of  intricate  incised  decoration,  the 
exact  pattern  of  which  is  no  longer  apparent. 

Less  than  one  foot  from  the  surface,  with  human  remains,  were  two  stopper- 
shaped  objects  of  shell.  This  form  (Fig.  7)  so  well  known  in  certain  sections,  is 
not  present  in  the  mounds  of  the  Georgia  coast  strictly  speaking  and  has  not  been 
met  with  by  us  in  shell  in  Florida  though  present  in  the  great  deposit  of  objects 

1  "  Additional  Mounds  of  Duval  and  of  Clay  Counties,  Florida." 


Fig.  -.—Stopper- 
shaped  object  of 

mar  Woodbine. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   (JKORGIA   COAST.     1M 

ol'  earthenware  I'ound  by  us  in  the  Thurshy  Mound,  Yolusia  County.1  Thf.se 
may  have  .served  as  ear-plugs  since  we  know  it  to  have  been  an  aboriginal  custom 
to  wear  articles  of  considerable  si/.e  thrust  through  the  lobe  of  the  ear. 

About  3  feet  from  the  surface,  lying  near  the  cranium  of  a  skeleton,  were 
beads  of  shell,  some  of  considerable  size  ;  several  stopper-shaped  objects  of  shell  ; 
an  imperforate  drinking  cup  wrought  from  Fulgur  perversum  ; 
and  an  undecorated  gorget  of  shell,  3.75  inches  by  4.5  inches, 
with  double  perforation  for  suspension.  Almost  immediately  above 
these  remains  and  relics  was  an  intrusive  burial  of  recent  times. 
having  fragments  of  clothing  and  buttons. 

Other   stopper-shaped    objects   were   found    associated  with    a 
finger-ring  of  copper,  to  which  reference  will  be  made  later. 

About  3  feet  from  the  surface  was  a-  nest  of  oyster  shells  and 
charcoal. 

COI'I'FR 

Associated  with  human  remains,  1.5  feet  from  the  surface,  was 
an  ornament  of  sheet  copper  almost  oblong  in  shape.  The  margin 
was  beaded,2  as  is  so  commonly  the  case  with  similar  ornaments  in  Florida,  and  a 
central  concavo-convex  boss  had  its  origin  in  a  great  number  of  semi-perforations 
placed  closely  together  with  the  aid  of  some  pointed  implement.  The  sheet  copper 
is  decidedly  thicker  than  that  met  with  in  Florida,  more  resembling  sheet  copper 
we  have  seen  from  Ohio.  Not  far  from  the  center  of  the  margin  of  the  smaller  end 
is  a  perforation  for  suspension.  Length,  3  inches;  maximum  breadth,  '2.7-')  inches; 
minimum  breadth,  2.25  inches. 

About  1.5  feet  from  the  surface,  2  feet  from  a  skeleton  lying 
at  the  same  level,  was  a  circular  ornament  of  sheet  copper,  3  inches 
in  diameter.  The  usual  concavo-convex  boss  at  the  center  is  present, 
as  likewise  is  the  beaded  margin.  There  is  one  perforation  for 
attachment  or  suspension. 

In  the  northern  slope  of  the  mound,  about  2  feet  from  the 
surface,  with  a  skeleton,  were  shell  beads,  several  stopper-shaped 
objects  of  shell  and,  in  place  on  a  linger  bone,  a  finger-ring  wrought     Flg0'f8^hee[nger~ring 
from  a  band  of  thin  sheet  copper  (Fiu;.  8). 

Prehistoric  finger-rings  are  of  extreme  rarity  in  this  country. 
In  the  cemetery  at  Madisonville,  Ohio,  where  are  the  famous  ash-pits,  Professor 
Putnam  found  on  the  fingers  of  one  skeleton  four  rings  made  from  bands  of  sheet 
copper,  and  speaks  of  such  rings  as  "  unique  in  American  archaeology."3  Professor 
Putnam  does  not  recall  the  discovery  of  similar  rings  from  the  date  of  publication 
of  his  report  to  the  present  time. 

1  "Certain  Sand  Mounds  of  the  St.  Johns  River,  Florida,"  Part  I,  Fig.  100. 

2  The  same  beaded  margin,  so  frequently  seen  on  ornaments  of  sheet  copper  in  Florida,  is  repre 
sented  as  present  on  a  sheet  silver  disc  from  Peru.     "  Necropolis  of  Ancon,"  Keiss  and  Stiibell,  Berlin. 
Part  VIII,  Plate  LXXXI,  Fig.  19. 

:1  XVI  and  XVII  Annual  Reports,  Peabody  Museum,  p.  166. 


Mound  ni.-arWoo.i- 

bine.     (Full  size.) 


•2  JOUEN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


14     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS.  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

It  is  worth  v  of  remark  that  similarly  shaped  finger-rings  of  metal  hands  have 
been  found  on  Peruvian  mummies,  two  such  rings  being  figured l  in  Reiss  and 
St Libel's  magnificent  plates.  Unfortunately,  the  metal  from  which  the  rings  are 
made  is  not  specified,  but  as  they  are  shown  of  a  deep  green  shade  presumably 
copper  is  represented.  On  ornaments  of  silver  containing  copper  one  is  not  likely 
to  find  so  marked  and  so  uniform  a  deposit  of  carbonate. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

The  tooth  of  a  fossil  shark,  about  4  inches  in  length,  apparently  unassociated, 
lav  -3  feet  from  the  surface. 

Another  shark's  tooth,  1  inch  in  length,  lay  in  caved  sand.  At  its  base  was  a 
perforation  possibly  tor  suspension  as  an  ornament,  or  just  as  probably  for  attach 
ment  to  a  wooden  handle  lor  use  as  a  cutting  tool,  such  implements  having  been 
found  by  Mr.  dishing  in  the  mud  near  shell-heaps  of  the  southwestern  coast  of 
Florida. 

On  or  just  beneath  the  surface,  at  a  considerable  distance  from  any  burial,  was 
a  polychrome  glass  bead  which  we  believe  to  have  been  dropped  upon  the  mound 
subsequent  to  its  completion. 

REMARKS. 

The  interesting  mound  near  Woodbine,  which  we  have  included  here,  has 
nothing  in  common  with  the  mounds  of  the  coast,  being  on  fresh  water  and  at  a 
considerable  distance  from  the  sea.  This  fact  should  be  borne  in  mind  when  the 
contents  of  the  mound  are  taken  into  consideration. 

Morxi)  AT  (hvEx's  FERKY,   CAMDEN  COUNTY. 

At  Owen's  Ferry,  on  the  left  hand  side  of  the  Satilla  river,  going  down,  in  full 
view  from  the  water,  on  the  property  of  George  S.  Owen,  Esq.,  of  Savannah,  is  a 
symmetrical  mound  apparently  uninvestigated  previous  to  our  visit.  It  is  pictur 
esquely  situated  on  a  blulf  sloping  to  the  water's  edge  and  on  it  grow  a  number  of 
forest  trees.  The  mound,  considered  a  landmark,  is  in  full  view  of  the  Owen  house 
and  we  deem  it  an  especial  courtesy  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Owen  to  have  placed  it  so 
readily  at  our  disposition. 

In  shape  the  mound  resembles  an  inverted  bowl.  Its  height  from  the  east, 
which  may  be  considered  a  fair  average,  is  6  feet  4  inches ;  its  diameter  at  base, 
52  feet.  Over  one-half  of  the  mound,  the  northernmost  portion,  was  dug  away  and 
subsequently  replaced.  The  mound  was  composed  of  light  yellow  sand  without 
stratification. 

Small  fragments  of  human  bone  in  the  last  stage  of  decay,  were  present  at 
three  points. 

1  "The  Necropolis  of  Aiicon,"  Berlin.     Part  III,  Plate  XXX,  Fig.  14. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    TIIK    GEORGIA   COAST.      l'» 

A  lew  sherds,  sonic-  plain  ;m<I  sonic  ornamented  with  the  usual  diamond  or 
square  stamp,  lay  loose  in  the  sand,  as  did  three  arrow-heads  of  chert,  found 
separately.  Well  in  toward  the  center  was  an  irregular  mass  of  oyster  shells, 
ahont  (')  feet  from  the  surface. 

The  result  of  our  examination  of  this  mound  surprised  us  greatly,  since  it 
strongly  resembled  the  rich  little  mound  at  Woodbine  a  few  miles  below. 

Two  MOUNDS  SOUTH  OF  BRUNSWICK,  GI,Y\X  COUNTY. 

At  South  Brunswick,  opposite  the  town  of  Brunswick,  about  200  yards  in  a 
southerly  direction  from  the  railroad  wharf,  was  a  mound  "2  feet  high  and  2<>  feet 
across  the  base.  It  bore  no  marks  of  previous  investigation.  A  total  demolition 
of  the  mound  was  without  result. 

About  1.5  miles  inland  from  Fancy  Bluff,  an  abandoned  plantation  on  a  creek 
a  short  distance  from  South  Brunswick,  was  a  mound  2  feet  8  inches  in  height,  and 
28  feet  across  the  base.  This  mound  was  investigated  so  far  as  a  large  tree  upon 
its  northern  portion  permitted.  No  discoveries  of  any  sort  were  made. 

MOUNDS  IN   LAWTON'S  FIKLD,  DARIEN,  McL\Tosn  COUNTY. 

The  town  of  Darien,  on  a  branch  of  the  Altamaha  river,  is  about  10  miles 
distant  from  the  sea  in  a  straight  line. 

In  the  northern  outskirt  of  the  town  is  a  large  field,  the  property  of  Mr.  P.  C. 
Law-ton,  an  intelligent  colored  man,  who  readily  placed  at  our  disposal  three  mounds 
included  within  the  limits  of  his  field. 

Mound  A.  This  mound,  which  had  been  plowed  over  for  years,  had,  according 
to  report,  lost  considerably  in  height  which,  at  the  time  of  its  total  demolition  by 
us,  was  4  feet  0  inches.  Its  diameter  at  base  was  4(1  feet. 

Previous  investigation  was  limited  to  a  narrow  superficial  trench  through  a 
portion  of  the  mound. 

The  mound  was  composed  of  yellowish  sand  with  local  layers  of  oyster  shells, 
calcined  in  one  instance,  and  of  sand,  brownish  in  color,  probably  through  presence 
of  foreign  material.  A  layer  of  brownish  sand,  about  1  foot  in  thickness,  seemed  to 
mark  the  lower  portion  of  the  mound,  as  immediately  below  it  was  bright  yellow 
sand,  undisturbed,  and  containing  no  object  of  artificial  origin.  At  the  center, 
from  this  bright  yellow  sand  to  the  highest  portion  of  the  mound,  vertically,  was 
(>  feet. 

A  number  of  fragmentary  and  disconnected  human  bones  were  found  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  trench,  left  by  previous  investigators.  Undisturbed  human 
remains,  which  were  almost  entirely  confined  to  the  eastern  side  of  the  mound, 
were  eleven  in  number.  The  form  of  burial  was  that  in  anatomical  order.  The 
skeletons  were  considerably  flexed.  Nearly,  if  not.  all  had  been,  to  all  appearance, 
wrapped  in  bark  much  of  which,  though  badly  decayed,  still  remained. 


10     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

Sherds  were  comparatively  of  iiitre(|uijnt  occurrence  and  were  apparently  of 
accidental  introduction.  The  plain,  the  checked  stamp,  and  the  intricate  stamp 
were  represented. 

The  mound  was  unusually  devoid  of  artifacts.  Large  shell  heads  were  present 
with  several  skeletons,  and  some  small  ones  with  the  skeleton  of  an  infant. 

With  human  remains,  just  beneath  the  present  surface,  were  two  stone  hatchets, 
one  verv  rude;  one  pebble  and  one  bit  of  earthenware. 

Loose  in  the  sand  were  a  bit  of  fossil  wood,  and,  in  another  portion  of  the 
mound,  a  small  mass  of  sandstone,  pitted  on  one  side.  Unassociated,  5.5  feet  from 
the  surface  was  a  very  rude  implement  of  stone. 

Mound  B.  This  mound,  about  30  feet  south  of  the  preceding  one.  had  a 
height  of  4  feet,  a  diameter  at  base  of  30  feet.  A  narrow  trench,  about  2  feet  in 
depth,  had  previously  been  dug  through  a  portion  of  it. 

The  mound  was  completely  demolished. 

Its  composition  was  almost  identical  with  that  of  Mound  A. 

HUMAN    RKMAJNS. 

Exclusive  of  certain  loose  bones,  disturbed  by  previous  investigators,  32  burials 
were  noted  in  the  mound.  Of  these,  30  were  in  anatomical  order  and  Hexed,  while 
two  consisted  of  deposits  of  charred  and  calcined  fragments  of  human  bones.  Above 
certain  skeletons  lay  small  local  layers  of  oyster  shells.  With  one  skeleton  was  a 
small  amount  of  sand  tinged  pink  with  red  oxide  of  iron — its  sole  occurrence  in  the 
mounds  of  Lawton's  field. 

With  very  few  exceptions,  skeletons  were  associated  with  wood  or  bark,  in 
some  cases  included  above  and  below  and  again  apparently  heaped  over  with  bark 
or  with  slabs  of  wood,  in  the  last  stage  of  decay.  Several  skeletons  were  enclosed 
in  cribs  or  pens  of  wood,  as  for  instance,  one  8.5  feet  from  the  eastern  margin  of 
the  mound  and  4  feet  from  the  surface.  The  bones  lay  in  a  pen  composed  of  logs 
from  3  to  5  inches  in  diameter.  The  longitudinal  logs  had  an  average  length  of  3 
feet,  that  of  the  transverse  ones  at  the  bottom  was  about  2  feet,  at  the  top  about 
20  inches.  The  top  was  composed  of  parallel  logs  running  longitudinally.  There 
was  no  bottom  to  this  pen  or.  more  properly  speaking,  coop.  Within  it  lay  a 
skeleton  tlexed  on  its  right  side,  heading  south.  The  head  and  body  were  in  line, 
the  head  at  one  end  of  the  pen.  the  pelvis  at  the  other.  The  thighs  were  tlexed 
sharply  on  the  body  and  the  legs  on  the  thighs.  The  right  leg  rested  between 
the  logs  at  the  side  of  the  pen,  the  foot  projecting;  while  the  left  foot  extended 
beyond  the  end  of  the  pen.  The  arms  lay  along  the  body  with  the  forearms  lying 
between  the  thighs.  We  give  a  representation  of  this  coop  in  Fig.  0,  reproduced 
from  a  sketch  made  to  a  scale  and  on  the  spot.  It  has  been  found  impossible  to 
convey  the  decayed  and  crushed  appearance  of  the  wood,  but  the  number  and 
positions  of  the  various  pieces  are  exactly  represented.  The  bones  of  the  feet,  held 
in  place  by  the  sand,  fell  apart  when  the  sand  was  removed. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    TIIK    OKORG1A   COAST.     17 

In  this  pt'ii,  with  the  bones,  were  four  small  bits  of  chert,  one  showing  u  cer 
tain  amount  of  workmanship  ;  one  small  cube  of  quartz  and  a  small  mass  of  clayey 
material. 

With  another  skeleton  in  a  somewhat  similar  coop,  though  less  well  preserved, 
was  a  small  polished  chisel  of  stone  and  a  diminutive  pebble. 

Though,  as  stated,  a  great  majority  of  the  skeletons  were  buried  with  wood  or 
bark,  there  were  certain  notable  exceptions.  One  burial  in  the  eastern  margin,  3.0 
feet  from  the  surface,  showed  no  trace  of  woody  material.  The  cranium  of  this 
skeleton  was  preserved  in  good  condition  (A.  N.  S.  Cat.  No.  2,15'J). 

Considerably  below  the  level  of  the  surrounding  territory,  beneath  the  extreme 
western  margin  of  the  mound,  were  two  graves,  distinguished  by  the  dip  of  the 
artificially  colored  brown  sand  constituting  the  lowest  stratum  of  the  mound,  into 
the  undisturbed  yellow  sand  of  the  field.  Neither  grave  showed  any  trace  of  wood 
or  bark. 


Fig.  9.— Burial  pen.     Mounds  iu  Lawton's  Field,  Mound  B.     (About  one-eighth  size.)  ' 

Grave  No.  1  contained  a  skeleton  5  feet  3  inches  from  the  surface  of  the  mound 
and  2  feet  o  inches  below  the  bottom  of  the  basal  layer  of  brown  sand  which  at 
this  point  extended  two  feet  below  the  level  of  the  surrounding  territory.  The 
mound  at  this  point  had  a  height  of  1  foot,  No  artifact  lay  with  the  skeletal 
remains  though,  in  close  association,  was  the  right  huinerus  of  an  adult  bald-eagle2 
(Halifcetus  leucocepha/ns}.  The  bone  was  in  a  subfossilized  condition.  The  bones 
of  both  forearms  of  this  skeleton  were  anchylosed  at  the  upper  extremity  in  a  posi 
tion  of  pronation.  They  were  sent  to  the  Army  Medical  Museum  at  Washington. 
No  anchylosis  was  noted  at  other  points  of  the  skeleton.  The  cranium,  in  fairly 
good  condition,  was  preserved  (A.  N.  S.  Cat.  No.  2.1(10).  In  this  skeleton  the  bones 
of  one  hand  were  missing  while  the  axis  rested  against  the  sacrum  and  a  first  rib 
and  atlas  lay  above  the  pelvis.  The  lower  jaw  was  back  of,  and  turned  frojn,  the 

1  In  the  cut  the  feet  are  incorrectly  represented  as  upright,  their  true  position  having  been  nearly 
parallel  to  the  logs. 

2  Kindly  determined  by  Dr.  K.  W.  Kliufeldt. 


18     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 


cranium  and.  moreover,  gave  every  evidence  of  not  belonging  to  the  skull.  The 
teeth  of  the  lower  jaw  showed  considerably  more  wear  than  those  of  the  upper  jaw. 
In  the  upper  jaw  one  wisdom  tooth  showed  little  sign  of  wear,  while  the  other  had 
been  but  recently  lost.  On  the  other  hand,  there  had  been  a  loss  of  both  wisdom 
teeth  of  the  lower  jaw  with  absorption  of  the  alveolar  process.  Moreover,  the  teeth 
of  the  jaws  do  not  seem  to  coincide.  It  is  seen  that  these  signs  of  disturbance  can 
be  accounted  lor  only  under  the  hypothesis  of  exposure  of  the  body  previous  to 
interment — a  very  common  practice  in  some  sections — and  that  the  parts  not  in 
anatomical  order  had  fallen  from  the  skeleton  which  otherwise  was  held  together 
by  ligaments.  The  lower  jaw,  probably  lost  or  mixed,  was  intentionally  or  other 
wise,  substituted  by  another. 

About  8  feet  due  south  from  grave  No.  1,  4.25  fec-t  from  the  surface  of  the 
mound,  and  about  •!  feet  below  the  level  of  the  surrounding  territory,  was  grave  No. 
2,  3.5  feet  long,  by  33  inches  wide,  by  1  foot  deep.  The  skull  was  saved  in  good 
condition  (A.  N.  S.  Cat.  No.  2,155).  The  tibiae  and  fibulae  showed  inflammatory 
swelling.  With  the  cranium  were  three  shell  pins  of  familiar  type. 

EARTHENWARE. 

Sherds  were  not  numerous,  a  few  undecorated  or  with  variously  stamped  pat 
terns  being  met  with. 

Two  and  one-half  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  southern  margin,  with  human 


Fig.  10.  Fig.  11. 

Tobacco  ]>i]>es  of  earthenware.     Mounds  in  Lawton's  Field,  Mound  B.     (Full  size.) 

remains  was  an  inverted  imperforate  vessel  with  flaring  rim  and  encircling  band  oi 
complicated  decoration.     The  ware  is  of  excellent  quality.      Height,  4.75  inches; 
diameter  of  rim,  4.25  inches;  of  body,  5  inches  (Plate  I,  Fig.  1). 

Two  undecorated  vessels  of  poor  material,  of  about  3  pints  and  1  pint 
capacity  respectively,  lay  together  about  2  feet  distant  from  a  skeleton  on  the  same 
level.  The  smaller  vessel,  irregularly  oblong,  unfortunately  received  a  blow  from 
a  spade.  The  larger,  a  bowl  of  ordinary  pattern,  was  broken  by  pressure  of  sand. 
Both  have  been  completely  restored. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     !'.» 

Scattered  fragments  belonging  to  two  earthenware  tobacco  pipes  were  recovered 
some  little  distance  apart,  and  subsequently  reunited  as  shown  in  Figs.  10  and 
11.  One  is  still  coated  interiorly  with  carbonized  material,  probablv  tobacco. 
Tobacco  pipes  of  this  type  are  figured  by  the  late  C.  C.  Jones  as  coming  from  a 
mound  on  Colonel's  Island  on  the  Georgia  coast.1 

SHELL. 

With  various  burials  were  live  drinking  cups  of  shell  (Fulgur perversutri),  two 
imperforate,  three  having  round  and  even  perforations  in  the  base.  These  holes 
were  much  more  carefully  made  than  those  made  by  roughlv  knocking  out  a  portion, 
so  frequently  found  in  the  Florida  mounds.  This  perforation,  the  reader  will  recall 
was  an  aboriginal  custom  obtaining  in  Florida  though  not  universallv  practised. 
It  is  supposed  to  have  been  done  to  "  kill  "  the  vessel,  thus  freeing  its  soul  to  accom 
pany  that  of  the  departed  into  the  other  world.  We  have  found  no  perforation  of 
shell  drinking  cups  north  of  Darien. 

Shell  beads  were  not  numerous  and  were  present  in  but  two  cases. 

Near  the  margin,  together,  were  seven  fresh-water  mussel  shells  (Unio  Cuvieri- 
anus,  Lea2)  and  nearby,  a  number  of  marine  shells  (Littortna  irrorata'1}.  These 
apparently,  were  not  in  the  neighborhood  of  human  remains. 

STONE  . 

Ten  inches  below  the  present  surface  of  the  mound  was  a  beautifully  polished 
little  hatchet  of  plutonic  rock,3  apparently  unassociated.  Another  larger  hatchet 
was  found  superficially.  Several  pebbles  lay  witli  burials  or  loose  in  the  sand. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Beneath  the  base  of  the  mound,  with  human  remains,  was  the  lower  portion 
of  the  femur  of  a  bear,  evidently  separated  by  a  cutting  tool. 

In  a  portion  of  the  trench  made  previous  to  our  investigation,  which  had  been 
partially  filled,  were  various  objects  of  recent  manufacture:  a  rusty  pocket  knife; 
a  fragment  of  glass;  the  head  of  an  iron  hammer;  an  iron  ring.  etc.  A  hastv  or 
unscrupulous  investigator  could  easily  refer  these  objects  to  the  period  of  construc 
tion  of  the  mound. 

Mound  C.  In  the  same  field,  about  300  feet  east  of  Mound  A.  was  a  mound 
2  feet  U  inches  in  height.  Its  diameter  of  base  was  34  feet. 

A  small  and  superficial  trench  had  previously  been  made  through  a  portion  of  it. 

The  mound  was  completely  dug  through. 

Seven  entire  skeletons  were  met  with  in  addition  to  a  few  loose  bones  disturbed 
by  the  makers  of  the  previously  mentioned  trench.  All  skeletons  were  apparently 
lying  Hexed  on  the  side,  and  all  but  one  were  buried  with  coverings  of  bark  or  wood 

1  C.  C.  Jones,  "  Antiquities  of  the  Southern  Indians." 

*  Identified  l>y  Prof.  H.  A.  Pilsbry. 

'  We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  E.  Goldsmith  for  determinations  of  rock,  included  in  this  report. 


20     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE    GEORGIA    COAST. 

which  dropped  into  .small  pieces  upon  removal.  In  some  cases  the  covering 
of  wood  was  simply  thrown  over.  In  one  instance,  however,  in  the  case  of  a 
child  buried  '2  feet  deep  beneath  the  extreme  southern  margin  of  the  mound 
which  at  that  point  was  about  on  a  level  with  the  surrounding  territory,  the  skele 
ton  was  covered  by  a  coop  20  inches  in  length,  14  to  10  inches  in  breadth,  lying 
northeast  and  southwest.  In  this  case  the  top  consisted  of  Hat  pieces  placed  trail  s- 
versly  and  not  of  logs  laid  longitudinally  as  in  the  case  of  the  coop  in  Mound  B. 

Beneath  one  burial  was  a  thin  layer  of  ashes,  while  another  was  surmounted 
by  a  layer  of  oyster  shells,  6  to  8  inches  in  thickness. 

No  artifacts  were  present  with  the  burials.  A  few  sherds  lay  loose  in  the  sand. 
Superficially  and  near  no  human  remains  was  a  copper  bead  apparently  of  European 
manufacture. 

The  curious  burials  present  in  Mounds  B.  and  C.  in  Lawton's  field,  where 
skeletons  were  enclosed  in  pens,  must  not  be  considered  as  representative  of  the 
coast  since  nowhere  else  have  they  been  met  with  by  us.  We  have  it  on  excellent 
authority  that  in  mounds  farther  up  the  Altamaha  this  form  of  burial  was  in  vogue. 

TOWNSEND  MOUND,  Mclxmsn  COUNTY. 

This  mound,  about  one  mile  east  of  Darien,  was  placed  at  our  disposal  by  Mr. 
J.  S.  Townsend,  of  Darien,  the  owner,  to  whom  our  cordial  thanks  are  tendered. 

The  mound,  which,  it  is  believed,  had  sustained  no  previous  investigation,  is 
reported  to  have  been  under  cultivation  in  ante-bellum  days,  and  at  that  time,  to 
have  been  ploughed  over  for  considerable  periods. 

Its  present  height  is  3  feet  8  inches ;  the  diameter  of  its  circular  base,  42  feet. 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  square  feet  surrounding  two  live  oaks  on  extreme 
marginal  portions,  the  mound  wras  completely  dug  through. 

The  mound  was  composed  of  yellowish-brown  sand,  without  stratification. 
In  various  parts  were  layers  of  oyster  shells.  In  the  central  portion  was  an  irregu 
lar  layer  of  these  shells,  3  feet  in  thickness  at  places.  Occasionally,  near  human 
remains,  were  pockets  of  sand  dyed  pink  or  red,  with  hematite. 

HUMAN    REMAINS. 

This  mound,  a  perfect  charnel  house,  teemed  with  skeletal  remains  from 
margin  to  center,  human  bones  being  met  with  at  fifty-nine  points,  and  it 
probable  that  these  interments  represented  the  remains  of  fully  seventy-five 
individuals. 

Interments  varied  as  to  depth  from  .5  of  a  foot  to  4.5  feet  from  the  surface. 

Three  forms  of  burial  prevailed  :  cremation,  the  bunched  burial  and  the  burial 
in  anatomical  order.  Deposits  of  portions  of  human  bones,  charred  and  calcined 
by  fire,  were  noted  at  five  points  in  the  mound.  Once  charred  remains  lay  associ 
ated  with  many  bones  unaffected  by  fire.  We  shall  refer  to  this  farther  on. 

In  all,  1 8  bunched  burials  were  present,  some  representing  parts  of  but  one 
individual,  others  being  layers  of  bones  in  absolute  confusion,  one  such  having  a 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOl'NDS   OF   THK    GEORGIA   COAST.     21 

length  of  3.5  feet,  a  breadth  of  22  inches,  a  thickness  of  S  inches.  In  several  of 
these  layers  five  or  six  crania  were  present.  With  one  layer  was  a  mass  of  calcined 
human  remains  to  which  reference  has  been  made. 

In  each  case  burials  in  anatomical  order  showed  Hexion  to  a  certain  extent — 
in  certain  cases  to  a  much  greater  extent  than  in  others.  No  uniformity  of  direc 
tion  had  been  observed  as  to  the  positions  of  the  skeletons — crania  pointing  to 
every  point  of  the  compass.  Twenty-six  skeletons  lay  upon  the  right  side,  eight 
upon  the  left.  One  lay  upon  the  back  with  legs  Hexed  to  the  left ;  another  upon 
the  back,  had  the  face  turned  to  the  left.  The  position  of  one  skeleton  in  caved 
sand  was  undetermined. 

The  bones  in  this  mound,  perhaps  owing  to  the  presence  of  shell,  were 
unusually  well  preserved,  offering  a  marked  contrast  to  skeletal  remains  in  many 
Florida  mounds  from  which  frequently  all  intermixture  of  shell  is  absent. 

In  no  instance  did  the  remains  indicate  individuals  of  unusual  size.  The  linen 
aspera  was  not  especially  defined.  One  platycnemic  tibia  had  an  index  of  54, 
which,  as  the  reader  will  recall,  means  that  the  transverse  diameter  is  .54  of  that 
taken  antero-posteriorly.  No  signs  of  injury  or  disease  were  present  with  the 
exception  of  alveolar  abscesses.  Three  crania  were  preserved  in  fairly  good  condi 
tion.  Two  of  these  (Cat.  Nos.  2,15(5  and  2,157)  are  in  the  collection  of  the 
Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia.  The  remaining  one  was  sent  to  the 
Army  Medical  Museum,  Washington. 

HU.MKRI. 


Male. 

Female. 

Uncertain. 

Perforated. 

Not  Perforated. 

Perforated. 

Not  Perforated. 

Perforated. 

Not  Perforated. 

Right 

4 

15 

3 

•> 

3 

11 

Left 

6 

11 

3 

1 

5 

8 

Of  the  10  male  skeletons  in  which  both  hnnieri  were  recovered  in  a  condition 
for  determination,  7  showed  no  perforation  in  either  humerus  ;  two  skeletons  showed 
the  right  humerus  perforated,  the  left  imperforate  ;  in  one  skeleton  the  condition 
was  reversed. 

Of  the  2  female  skeletons  recovered,  one  had  the  right  humerus  perforated,  the 
left  imperforate  ;  the  other,  perforation  of  both  liumeri. 

Of  the  uncertain  liumeri  but  one  pair,  the  left  perforated,  the  right  imperforate, 
belonged  to  the  same  skeleton. 

ARTIFACTS. 

Earthenware. — No  earthenware  vessels  wrere  present  in  the  mound  nor  were 
sherds  associated  with  human  remains.  A  small  number  of  sherds,  probably 


3  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


22     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 


accidentally   introduced,   plain,    with   the   ordinary    square '  Stamp,    with    intricate 
stamped  decoration  and  in  one  case,  incised,  were  present. 

Eight  tobacco  pipes,  whole  or  but  slightly  broken,  of  the  same  type  as  those 
from  the  mound  at  Darien,  came  from  different  points  in  the  mound.  They  lay  in 
immediate  association  with  human  remains,  as  in  fact,  did  all  artifacts  discovered, 
save  onlv  the  sherds.  Of  these  tobacco  pipes,  two  of  which  we  show  in  Figs.  12 
and  ]?>,  one  .had  incised  decoration  while  several  had  encircling  bands  upon  the 


Fig.  12.  Fig.  1.'!. 

Tobacco  pipes  of  earthenware.     Townsi'nd  Mound.     (Full  size.) 

bowl.  All  were  moderate  in  size,  differing  markedly  from  the  great  tobacco  pipes 
from  the  mounds  of  Duval  (Jo.,  Florida.  In  the  bowls  of  some  remained  carbonized 
material — doubtless  tobacco. 

Shell. — With  numerous  burials  were  shell  beads,  at  times  a  few  only  and  again 
in  considerable  numbers;  some  minute  in  size,  others — sections  of  columellae — over 
1  inch  in  length.  Nineteen  of  these  longitudinally  perforated  .sections  were  found 
with  one  burial. 

Eleven  pins  of  shell  of  the  familiar  type,  none  over  2.5  inches  in  length,  were 
with  various  crania,  often  witli  shell  drinking  cups.  These  drinking  cups  were 
imperfbrate.  One,  with  the  skeleton  of  a  child,  was  but  four  inches  in  length. 
We  have  not  met  with  so  diminutive  a  shell  drinking  cup  before. 

A  number  of  fresh-water  mussel  shells  (Unw  Skepardianus)*  perforated  for 
suspension,  lay  with  other  objects  near  a  skeleton. 

With  a  bunched  burial  '2  feet  from  the  surface,  were  live  implements  wrought 
from  columellse  of  Fulgur  carica.  ground  at  the  beak  doubtless  to  serve  as  chisels. 
In  four  the  spire  remained,  from  the  fifth  this  portion  had  been  removed. 

Stone. — Three  small  polished  •'celts."  each  about  2  inches  in  length,  two  about 
double  that  si/e  and  a  fine  chisel  10  inches  in  length,  with  a  maximum  breadth 
of  '-\  inches,  a  maximum  thickness  of  .!)  of  one  inch,  lay  with  human  remains. 

Two  discoidal  stones,  each  about  1.7-">  inches  in  diameter,  one  .75  of  an  inch  in 
thickness,  the  other  a  little  over  1  inch,  were  found  separately  with  human  remains. 
This  is  the  southernmost  occurrence  of  the  discoidal  stone  in  our  investigations. 

1  Identified  hv  Prof.  H.  A.  Pilsbrv. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     !>:-J 

But  one  arrowhead  came  from  the  mound. 

Two  bits  of  soapstone  lay  separately  with  burials. 

A  number  of  pebbles,  each  about  1  inch  in  diameter,  were  with  several  skele 
tons,  and  a  considerable  number,  each  about  the  si/.e  of  a  pea,  doubtless  formerly 
enclosed  in  a  turtle  shell  to  form  a  rattle,  were  met  with  together  near  a  burial. 

Several  bits  of  chert,  fragments  of  hatchets  and  one-half  of  a  good-si/.ed  pebble 
of  quartz  were  variously  associated. 

Glass. — A  considerable  number  of  glass  beads  lay  with  a  burial  two  feet  from 
the  surface. 

Miscellaneous. — A  bit  of  plumbago,  also  a  mass  of  bitumen,  came  from  the 
mound,  and  ordinary  piercing  implements  of  bone  were  with  two  interments. 

ASSOCIATION. 

To  give  an  idea  of  the  association  of  various  objects  present  in  the  mound 
we  shall  describe  certain  burials  and  the  objects  found  with  them. 

One  foot  from  the  surface,  with  a  skeleton,  were  the  nineteen  large  shell  beads 
already  referred  to;  a  saw  apparently  of  a  diminutive  saw-fish  and  a  bit  of  chert. 

Another  skeleton,  with  sand  tinged  red  near  the  cranium,  had  five  shell  pins 
almost  in  contact  with  the  skull,  and  eighteen  large  beads  of  shell. 

A  skeleton  having  a  thin  layer  of  oyster  shells  immediately  above  it,  had 
associated  several  piercing  implements  of  bone  and  one  arrowhead  of  chert. 

With  a  bunched  burial,  contiguous  to  a  confused  mass  of  human  bones,  around 
the  skull,  were  a  few  shell  beads,  many  beads  of  glass,  and  one  minute  piece  of 
copper  or  of  brass,  of  about  the  area  of  twice  that  of  the  head  of  a  pin.  It  was 
carbonated  through  and  through. 

With  a  bunched  burial,  2  feet  from  the  surface,  were  three  tobacco  pipes,  two 
slightly  broken  ;  four  pebbles ;  three  piercing  implements  of  bone,  and  five  cutting 
implements  of  shell. 

The  reader  will  bear  in  mind  that  these  objects  described  as  associated  are  not 
additional  artifacts  but  have  previously  been  referred  to  separately. 

REMARKS. 

We  have  noted  the  presence  of  glass  beads  at  one  point  in  the  mound.  The 
burial  with  which  they  lay  had  no  appearance  of  being  intrusive.  Unfortunately, 
the  height  of  the  mound  was  such  that  one  can  draw  no  conclusion  as  to  the  period 
of  the  burial  on  .account  of  its  comparatively  superficial  character. 

PASSBEY  MOUND,  Mrlxiosn  COUNTY. 

This  mound,  in  the  yard  of  Mr.  Frank  Passbey  (colored)  is  in  the  suburbs  of 
Darien,  about  1  mile  northwest  of  the  town  proper.  It  had  been  under  cultivation 
but  no  previous  investigation  was  apparent. 

Its  present  height  is  5.5  feet;  the  diameter  of  its  base,  48  feet.  The  mound 
was  about  one-half  dug  through.  It  was  composed  of  yellowish-brown  sand  with 


24     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

ji  band  of  sand  about  >>  inches  thick  running  about  1  foot  below  the  level  of  the 
surrounding  territory. 

Human  remains  were  encountered  at  eleven  points.  In  each  case  but  one, 
where  incineration  had  been  practised,  burials  were  in  anatomical  order,  flexed  and 
lying  on  the  right  .side  or  on  the  left  side  with  no  uniformity  of  direction.  Several 
marginal  burials  were  considerably  below  the  blackened  stratum,  to  which  reference 
has  been  made,  and  in  each  case  the  stratum  was  disturbed,  showing  the  burials  to 
have  been  made  subsequent  to  the  extinction  of  the  fires. 

Several  burials  in  the  mound  showed  partial  disturbance,  and  at  these  points 
the  sand  was  less  solid  than  elsewhere,  probably  through  removal  of  trees  when  the 
mound  was  cleared  for  cultivation. 

With  the  interments  were  no  artifacts  whatever.  Loose  in  the  sand  were  four 
or  five  sherds,  undecorated  or  with  the  usual  square  or  diamond-shaped  stamp. 
The  only  other  object  of  human  origin,  present  in  that  portion  of  the  mound 
excavated  by  us,  was  an  arrowhead  of  quart/.  This,  so  far  as  our  experience  ex 
tends,  is  the  southernmost  occurrence  of  this  material  in  use  for  a  lance-head  or  for 
a  projectile  point. 

MorxDS  NEAK  '•  THK  THICKET,"   MC!NTOSH  COUNTY. 

About  5  miles  by  land,  or  about  12  by  water,  in  a  northeasterly  direction  from 
the  town  of  Darien.  is  a  settlement  on  Peace  Creek,  having  no  general  name,  either 
locally  or  on  the  chart,  but,  with  the  exception  of  certain  homes  of  colored  people, 
it  is  composed  of  various  estates,  each  having  a  name  of  its  own,  such  as  "  The 
Forest,"  "  The  Thicket,"  etc.  As  the  boat  landing  is  situated  on  the  estate 
known  as  ''The  Thicket,"  we  shall,  for  convenience,  give  that  name  to  the  entire 
settlement. 

About  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  a  westerly  direction  from  the  landing  at 
'•The  Thicket,"  on  the  property  of  Mr.  Mansfield,  of  Darien,  are  three  mounds 
about  one-quarter  of  a  mile  apart.  All  are  symmetrical  and  vary  in  height  from  5 
to  7  feet.  Two  of  these  mounds  were  investigated,  though  not  demolished.  Their 
diameters  of  base  are  about  40  and  00  feet  respectively.  They  are  composed  of 
yellow  sand  unstratified.  and  having  that  raw  look  indicative  of  absence  of  organic 
matter.  The  smaller  mound  yielded  absolutely  nothing,  with  the  exception  of  a 
Hexed  skeleton  near  the  surface  at  the  margin,  which  we  took  to  be  intrusive,  and 
some  charred  bones  with  several  small  shell  beads,  two  or  three  inches  below  the 
surface. 

The  larger  mound  was  not  excavated  in  our  presence  though  experienced 
persons  were  in  charge.  Fragmentary  human  remains  were  reported  as  present  at 
two  points  and  these  also  we  take  to  have  been  intrusive.  With  the  exception  of 
a  few  small  bits  of  earthenware  and  one  arrowhead  loose  in  the  sand  in  the  larger 
mound,  no  artifacts  were  met  with. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     25 

Within  sight  of  a  road  at  "  The  Thicket,"  on  the  property  of  Mr.  H.  S.  Ravenel, 
of  Darien,  was  a  symmetrical  little  mound  of  brownish  sand,  3  feet  5  inches  in 
height  and  30  feet  across  the  hase. 

It  was  totally  demolished. 

In  the  northwestern  margin,  33  inches  below  the  surface  which  was  there  just 
above  the  surrounding  level,  was  a  layer  4  feet  by  3  feet  by  10  inches  thick,  of 
oyster  shells  and  sand  completely  blackened  by  an  admixture  of  charcoal.  With 
this  blackened  sand  was  considerable  other  sand  dyed  red  with  hematite.  This 
curious  layer  formed  the  bottom  of  a  pit  as  was  clearly  shown  by  undisturbed  sand 
of  a  different  color  on  either  side.  Closest  scrutiny  failed  to  reveal  human  remains 
or  artifacts  in  this  peculiar  pit. 

About  the  center  of  the  mound,  2  feet  from  the  surface,  was  a  hunched  burial 
with  two  crania  and  a  variety  of  other  bones.  In  association  was  a  great  quantity 
of  powdered  hematite  scattered  among  many  oyster  shells. 

Four  feet  down  beneath  the  central  plateau,  directly  beneath  the  burial  already 
referred  to,  was  a  confused  mass  of  human  bones  including  "11  crania,  about  o  feet 
bv  (')  feet  by  10  inches  thick.  The  oyster  shells  and  hematite  lying  beneath  the 
bunched  burial  formed  a  covering  for  this  mass  of  bones.  With  the  bones  was  a 
small  discoidal  shell  bead  and  a  tubular  bead  of  shell  about  .75  of  an  inch  in  length. 

A  few  sherds  lay  loose  in  the  sand  throughout  the  mound. 

On  Mr.  Mansfield's  property  at  "The  Thicket,"  about  one-half  mile  in  a 
westerly  direction  from  the  landing,  on  the  edge  of  the  road  and  opposite  the 
church,  was  a  symmetrical  mound  2  feet  9  inches  in  height  and  30  feet  across  the 
base.  No  previous  investigation  was  apparent. 

It  was  totally  demolished. 

The  mound,  which  was  composed  of  yellowish-brown  sand,  contained  no  oyster 
shells.  Scattered  bits  of  charcoal  and  one  local 'layer  of  charcoal  were  present. 

Human  remains  were  in  the  last  stage  of  decay.  Apparently  in  all  but  three 
cases  the  bunched  burial  was  represented.  One  skeleton  lay  in  anatomical  order 
and  two  pockets  of  calcined  human  bones  were  centrally  situated  4  feet  from  the 
surface,  immediately  on  a  layer  of  sand  blackened  by  fire  and  by  intermixture  with 
charcoal.  In  all,  fragments  of  13  crania  were  noted  in  the  mound. 

Nine  inches  down  apparently  near  no  human  remains,  were,  the  shaft  of  a 
bone  of  a  lower  animal,  longitudinally  grooved  ;  a  number  of  fragments  of  columelhi' 
of  marine  univalves,  and  a  mass  of  stone  of  volcanic  origin  about  2  inches  by  l."> 
inches  by  .5  of  an  inch,  deeply  grooved  on  one  side  and  grooved  to  a  certain  extent 
on  the  other.  This  stone  had,  in  addition,  been  used  as  a  hammer  as  a  portion 
involving  the  groove,  had  been  split  oft'. 

With  a  skeleton  at  length,  to  which  reference  has  been  made,  near  the  cranium, 
was  a  portion  of  a  disc  of  copper  carbonated  through  and  through.  Immediately 
beneath  the  cranium  were  246  small  chips  of  chert.  This  skeleton  lay  3  feet  from 
the  surface. 


20     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE    GEORGIA  COAST. 

About  nine  inches  down,  with  sand  colored  with  hematite,  which  was  presen. 
with  certain  other  burials  in  the  mound,  were  a  few  small  bits  of  chert;  several 
small  shell  beads  and  parts  of  two  copper  discs  each  about  2.o  inches  in  diameter 
and  having  three  concavo-convex  concentric  circles  by  way  of  ornamentation.  On 
one  side  of  each  was  the  usual  wood  or  bark. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  a  black  band  of  sand  running  through  the  mound. 
This  layer  .7-")  of  one  foot  in  thickness,  was,  at  the  center  of  the  mound,  4  feet 
from  the  summit,  or  1  foot  >5  inches  beneath  the  surrounding  level.  In  close  prox 
imity  to  one  of  the  pockets  of  human  bones  which  we  have  noted  as  lying  in  this 
blackened  sand,  was  an  imperforate  vessel  of  very  thick  and  heavy  ware  ;  length, 
8  inches,  maximum  width,  o.l  inches,  height,  1.8  inches,  consisting  of  three  com 
partments  joined  longitudinally  very  much  in  the  same  style  as  the  vessel  figured 
by  us  as  coming  from  the  Monroe  Mound  :  in  Florida.  Vessels  of  this  character 
are  supposed  by  some  to  have  been  used  for  paint,  the  separate  compartments 
holding  different  colors. 

A  sheet  of  mica  about  •!  by  2  inches  was  found  in  caved  sand. 

A  few  sherds,  possibly  half  a  dozen,  were  scattered  throughout  the  mound. 

An  irregularly  shaped  mound  about  o  feet  in  height,  mainly  composed  of  shells, 
on  the  property  of  a  colored  man  named  King,  was  dug  into  without  result. 

MOUND  AT  SHELL  BLUFF,  MC!NTOSH  COUNTY. 

Shell  Bluff  on  Shell  Bluff  creek,  approximately  three  miles  by  land  and  six 
miles  by  water,  from  Crescent,  is  the  property  of  George  E.  Attwood,  Esq.,  who 
kindly  placed  at  our  disposition  a  mound  in  a  cultivated  field  near  his  residence. 

This  mound,  reduced  by  years  of  ploughing,  scarcely  rose  above  the  general 
level.  It  was  distinguished  by  the  paucity  of  oyster  shells  upon  its  surface,  which 
lay  more  thickly  on  certain  other  portions  of  the  field.  It  being  impossible  to  arrive 
at  any  conclusion  as  to  the  exact  area  containing  burials,  a  semicircle  was  taken 
with  radii  of  4(i  feet  converging  at  a  point  seemingly  the  most  prominent  of  the 
slight  elevation.  This  semi-circle,  including  what  we  took  to  be  the  eastern  half 
of  the  mound,  was  carefully  dug  through.  The  remaining  portion  of  the  mound 
apparently  had  not  been  used  for  interments  beyond  a  few  feet  from  the  cross-section 
and  after  26  feet  of  it  had  been  dug  through,  without  material  result,  the  work 
was  abandoned. 

The  mound  was  composed  of  yellowish-brown  sand  with  the  usual  layer  of 
surface  loam  above.  There  was  no  marked  base  line  nor  any  stratum  of  oyster 
shells  in  the  mound,  though  several  pits  containing  burials,  extending  into  undis 
turbed  sand,  were  filled  with  them. 

This  mound,  Mr.  Attwood  informed  us,  had  been  dug  into  by  him  at  one  spot, 
the  result  being  a  discovery  of  three  vessels  of  earthenware  filled  with  charred  and 

1  Certain  Sand  Mounds  of  Duval  County,  Florida,  Plate  LXXIII,  Fig.  2,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat. 
Sci.,  Vol.  X. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     '11 

calcined  fragments  of  human  bones  and  covered  with  other  vessels  inverted.  Owing 
to  this  previous  investigation  and  the  obvious  reduction  in  height  of  the  mound,  a 
detailed  description  of  the  contents  will  not  he' given. 

Sherds  were  not  numerous  and  none  with  the  complicated  stamp  was  met  with. 
Loose  in  the  sand  was  a  large  pebble-hammer  of  circular  outline. 

The  mound,  not  greatly  above  the  water  level,  was  unusually  moist;  and 
human  remains,  which  were  encountered  :>1  times,  were,  as  a  rule,  when  not  cal 
cined,  in  very  poor  condition.  The  usual  diversity  of  form  of  burial  was  present, 
including  that  in  anatomical  order,  the  bundled  burial,  inhumation  of  parts  of 
skeletons,  pockets  of  calcined  remains  and  cremated  fragments  in  cinerary  urns. 
We  append  certain  burials  seemingly  worthy  of  record,  including  all  associated 
with  any  artifacts. 

Burial  No.  8.  Nineteen  feet  east  of  the  point  taken  as  the  center,  and  about  1 
foot  1)  inches  below  the  surface,  was  a  layer  of  charcoal  and  charred  wood  about 
'•'>  inches  thick.  It  was  4.5  feet  across  and  extended  in  28  inches.  Above  a  portion 
of  it  was  a  thin  layer  of  oyster  shells.  Beneath  the  center  of  the  layer  of  charcoal, 
which  was  entirely  unbroken,  were  the  two  bones  of  a  forearm  of  a  child,  showiii"- 

*.  ^ 

no  signs  of  fire.  With  them  was  an  imporforate  drinking  cup  of  shell,  so  carefully 
ground  exteriorly  that  all  prominent  parts  had  been  removed. 

Burial  No.  12  A.  A  comparatively  small  vessel  of  about  two  gallons  capacity 
with  a  checked  stamp  decoration,  crushed  into  small  fragments.  It  had  contained 
many  pieces  of  calcined  human  bones.  The  record  of  its  exact  position  was  over 
looked. 

Burial  No.  14.  Sixteen  feet  E.  by  N..  on  the  base  of  a  pit  containing  numerous 
oyster  shells,  10  inches  from  the  surface,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  male  Hexed  on  the 
right  side,  heading  S.  by  W.  The  cranium,  an  exception  to  the  almost  universal 
rule  in  this  mound,  was  well  preserved  and  showed  a  marked  artificial  flattening  of 
the  frontal  bone.  It  was  sent  to  the  Army  Medical  Museum,  Washington,  I).  C. 

Burial  No.  l(i.  Twenty-one  feet  N.  E.  by  N.,  2  feet  down,  was  a  partially 
flexed  skeleton  of  a  male  on  the  right  side,  heading  N.  W.  by  W.  With  it  were 
two  pebble-hammers,  one.  of  quart/,  about  •>.")  inches  in  length,  shows  considerable 
use  on  one  end  as  a  hammer,  while  the  other  had  been  roughly  chipped  to  a  cutting 
edge,  a  feature  new  in  our  mound  investigation. 

Burial  No.  20,  B.  C.  1).  E.  Fourteen  feet  E.  by  N..  on  the  same  level,  their 
bases  2  feet  9  inches  from  the  surface,  in  line,  were  three  vessels.  The  one  to  the  left 
(C),  imperforate,  undecorated,  somewhat  resembling  a  bell-jar  in  shape,  was  almost 
intact,  and  contained  to  within  0  inches  from  the  surface,  a  mass  of  fragments  of 
calcined  human  bones  (Plate  II).  This  vessel,  which  had  a  diameter  at  mouth  of 
about  8  inches,  a  maximum  diameter  of  10.")  inches  and  a  height  of  10.. 3  inches 
approximately,  was  completely  covered  by  an  undecorated  jar  (B).  which  fell  into 
small  fragments  upon  removal.  In  contact  with  C  was  a  gracefully  shaped  vessel 
(D),  imperforate,  undecorated  and  entirely  intact  (Plate  111).  Approximately,  it 
measured  7.5  inches  in  height,  7.5  inches  across  the  mouth,  and  0.5  inches  maximum 


28     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE    GEORGIA    COAST. 

diameter.  Within  it  were  a  certain  number  of  calcined  fragments  of  human  bones. 
In  contact  with  D  was  a  bowl  (E)  in  fragments.  It  bore  the  checked  stamp  decor 
ation,  and  apparently  contained  no  human  remains,  though  immediately  behind  it 
was  a  small  pocket  of  calcined  fragments. 

Burial  No.  21.  Ten  feet  S.  E.,  skeletal  remains  disturbed  by  the  plough.  Below 
the  chin  were  several  large  shell  beads  in  line  and  a  number  of  small  ones. 

CREJGHTON  ISLAND,  MclNiosii  COUNTY. — NORTH  END. 

Creighton  Island,  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Sapelo  river,  a  branch  of  Sapelo 
Sound,  has  on  the  northern  portion,  on  such  parts  as  were  examined  by  us,  great 
fields  long  under  cultivation.  Scattered  through  these  fields  are  numerous  shell- 


--a-       . 


Kig.  14. — Diagram  of  mound  at  north  end  of  Creighton  Island. 

heaps  not  greatly  above  the  general  level.  Abundant  sherds  with  incised  decoration 
and  with  complicated  stamp  are  scattered  over  the  surface  in  every  direction.  All 
this  interesting  territory  was  cordially  placed  at  our  disposition  by  George  E. 
Attwood,  Esq.,  of  Shell  Bluff,  near  Crescent,  Georgia,  the  owner,  whose  mound  at 
Shell  Bluff  has  already  been  described  by  us. 

About  one  mile  S.  E.  by  E.  from  the  landing  was  a  mound,  or  rather  an  irreg 
ular  ridge,  extending  about  N.  W.  and  S.  E.  a  distance  of  116  feet.  Its  maximum 
width  at  base  was  100  feet  approximately.  Scattered  oysttr  shells  lay  over  the 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THK   (JKOKCIA    COAST.     2!> 


surface.  Its  height,1  which  attained  its  iiuixiinuni  at  the  central  part,  was  :>4  inches. 
Disturbed  sand  at  this  point  extended  08  inches  beneath  the  general  level,  as  we 
afterwards  learned  on  the  total  demolition  of  the  mound,  which  was  carefully  sliced 
down  and  much  adjacent  level  territory  dug  through.  The  diagram  (Fig.  14) 
shows  the  outline  of  the  mound,  the  outlying  territory  dug  through  and  the  area  in 
which  burials  were  met  with,  which  included,  we  believe,  all  having  any  connec 
tion  with  the  mound. 

There  had  been  no  previous  investigation,  the  nature  of  the  mound  being 
unknown  even  to  the  owner. 

COMPOSITION    OF    Mor.VI). 

The  mound  was  composed  of  yellowish-brown  sand  Iving  upon  undisturl>ed 
sand  of  a  bright  yellow  color.  The  usual  fire  places  and  fragments  of  charcoal 
were  present  at  various  points.  A  dark  hand  ran.  off  and  on.  through  the  mound 
at  about  the  level  of  the  surrounding  territory.  It  presumably  marked  the  base, 
but  was  so  broken  and  so  irregular  that  but  little  could  be  determined  from  it. 

Oyster  shells  in  layers  and  in  pockets  were  locally  present  but  so  irregular 
were  the  deposits  that  none  but  a  general  description  of  them  can  be  given.  The 
southern  half  of  the  mound  proper  showed  no  shell  save  in  small  local  pockets 
until  at  a  distance  of  '2-\  feet  from  the  center  in  a  southerly  direction,  where  a 
deposit  of  considerable  extent  began,  continuing  about  to  the  center.  This  deposit 
was  somewhat  undulating  in  shape,  at  times  almost  reaching  the  surface,  and  again 
dipping  one  or  two  feet  below  it.  Sixteen  feet  from  the  center  the  deposit  divided 
abruptly  leaving  a  space  S  feet  broad  filled  with  sand.  Shell  continued  IS  feet 
to  the  west  and  7  feet  to  the  east  of  this  interruption.  The  western  deposit, 
reaching  to  just  beneath  the  surface  loam,  was  >>  feet  thick.  Its  side  adjoining  the 
sand  was  perpendicular.  The  eastern  deposit  had  an  average  thickness  of  !..">  feet, 
its  western  margin,  however,  contained  a  considerable  pocket  of  sand  extending 
down  from  the  surface.  This  division  of  the  shell  layer  was  doubtless  caused  by  a 
pit  dug  through  it.  as  several  burials  were  present  in  the  sand.  A  lew  feet  farther 
in,  the  layer  reunited,  having  then  a  total  length  of  :>4  feet.  This  layer,  disap 
pearing  toward  the  center  of  the  mound,  gave  place  to  two  others  in  the  eastern  and 
western  portion  of  the  mound,  each  of  considerable  length,  which  ran  out  after 
continuing  a  few  feet  toward  the  north.  Other  layers  of  shell  in  the  northern 
portion  of  the  mound  were  local  and  restricted  as  to  si/.e. 

About  the  center  of  the  mound  was  a  pit  (see  section,  Fig.  !•>),  about  •">  feet 
8  inches  in  diameter,  of  the  type  prevalent  among  the  sea-islands  and  upon  the 
neighboring  mainland.  Upon  its  base,  6  feet  10  inches  from  the  surface  (it  may  be 
as  well  to  describe  the  burial  in  connection  with  the  pit),  was  a  layer  of  fragments 
of  calcined  human  bones,  G  inches  in  thickness,  with  many  large  shell  beads. 
Upon  this  layer  were  about  2  feet  8  inches  of  dark  yellow  sand  surmounted  by 
about  3  feet  8  inches  of  oyster  shells.  At  the  western  upper  extremity  of  the  pit 

1  Long  continued  cultivation  must  have  considerably  impaired  the  original  lieight. 
4  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


30     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA    COAST. 

was  a  layer  of  ovster  shells,  almost  superficial,  2  feet  in  thickness.  The  eastern 
upper  margin  would  have  contained  a  similar  deposit  had  it  not  been  that  a  pit  of 
sand.  2  feet  4  inches  across  had  been  let  into  the  shell  at  that  point. 


Shell.  \band   /     Shell. 

Shell. 


red       Sand. 

tot    ('•  --  </i-  b       i 


llrVed.          sand. 

Sea  /e  /  rt  j  fi~f. 
>        1        3        »       f 


Fig.  1">. — Diagram  of  central  pit.     Mound  at  north  end  of  Creighton  Island. 

While  various  pits  were  present  in  this  mound,  in  no  mound  investigated  by 
us  have  they  been  so  difficult  to  distinguish  exactly.  This  arose  partially  from  the 
considerable  size  of  some,  but  mainly  from  the  fact  that  but  few  extended  into  the 
bright  yellow  undisturbed  sand  beneath  the  base,  and  that  the  others  in  the  dis 
turbed  sand,  having  been  filled  with  homogeneous  material,  offered  no  distinct  line 
of  demarcation. 

Beginning  in  the  level  ground  and  extending  a  considerable  distance  along  the 
western  marginal  portion  of  the  mound,  was  one  of  those  great  excavations  filled 
with  dark  loam  and  refuse,  and  containing  no  burials,  so  often  found  in  mounds  of 
this  type  and  for  whose  existence  we  have  no  explanation  to  offer  save  that  possibly 
great  pits  made  to  furnish  material  tor  the  mound  were  allowed  slowly  to  fill  during 
the  occupation  of  the  territory.  The  sand  and  loam  filling  pits  of  this  class  are 
always  far  darker  than  the  sand  of  the  mound  which  they  adjoin. 

HUMAN     HKMA1NS. 

In  seven  cases  layers  of  decayed  wood  or  bark,  occasionally  showing  marks  of 
fire,  lay  above  human  remains,  and  in  two  cases,  above  and  below.  Doubtless  simi 
lar  deposits  in  many  other  cases  had  disappeared  through  decay.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  in  this  connection  that  a  Yamacraw  Indian  (the  Yamacraws  lived  near 
Savannah)  dying  in  London  during  a  visit  in  17:~»4,  was  interred  by  his  companions, 
strapped  between  two  boards1 — a  survival  of  an  ancient  custom. 

Human   remains  were   present  at   every  depth   in  the   mound  proper,  and  in 
certain  outlying  territory,  at  202  points  as  follows  : 
220  skeletons. 

10  pockets  of  calcined  fragments  of  human  bones. 
0  urn-burials  of  uncremated  remains  of  infants. 
••)  bunched  burials. 

'•"Antiquities  of  the  Southern  Indians,"  p.  185. 


CKKTAIX    AKOKHJLNAL    MOl'XDS   OF    TIIK    (IKOKCJIA    COAST.     81 

18  j)iirts  ol'  skeletons  disturbed  by  aboriginal  pits. 

7  fragmentary  skeletons,  in  cavi'd  sand,  disturbed  l>v  the  plow,  etc. 

8  skeletons  in  tbe  last  stage  of  decay. 

Skeletons, — Of  tbe  220  skeletons  the  following  subdivision  as  to  sex  mav  be 
made,  prefacing  it  with  the  explanation  that,  under  the  head  of  uncertain  sex  are 
included  such  skeletons  whose  characteristics  were  not  sufficiently  marked  for 
determination  ;  and  such  others,  mainly  from  pits  in  the  damp  sand,  whose  advanced 
•state  of  decay  made  a  definite  conclusion  impossible  : 

78  males.  Hi  adolescents. 

04  females.  12  children. 

47  uncertain.  8  infants. 

These  skeletons  lay  in  the  following  positions: 
It'll)  flexed  on  the  right  side. 
82  Hexed  on  the  left  side. 

7  partially  flexed  on  the  right  side, 
(i  partially  flexed  on  the  left  side. 

"2  with  extremities  flexed  and  trunk  on  hack. 

2  extended  at  full  length. 

1  semi-reclining. 

1  body  on  back,  thighs  flexed  to  either  side. 

8  infants  disturbed  by  our  men  in  digging. 

Tbe  two  skeletons  buried  at  full  length  on  their  backs  were  2  feet  and  2.")  feet 
from  the  surface,  respectively.  The  condition  of  the  bones  of  both  was  exception 
ally  good  but  one  cannot  base  final  conclusions  upon  the  state  of  preservation  of 
bones.  Tbe  arms  of  one  lay  along  tbe  trunk,  while  those  of  the  other  were  flexed 
to  the  pelvis.  No  aboriginal  artifacts  were  present  with  either,  nor,  on  the  other 
hand,  were  buttons,  coffin-nails,  or  any  like  object,  discovered  though  speciallv 
caref'ul  search  was  made. 

Tbe  direction  in  which  the  skeletons  beaded  was  as  follows  :  IS-")  \\-ere  included 
between  the  compass  points  S.  E.  and  S.  W.,  many  being  due  8.  Of  the  remaining 
85 — 21  headed  south  of  the  E.  and  W.  points;  4  beaded  due  E.;  1.  K.  bv  X.;  1,  E. 
X.  E.;  1,  X.  E.  by  E.;  1,  X.  E.  by  X.;  2,  W.  X.  W.;  1,  W.  by  X.;' while  tin- 
positions  of  the  8  infant  skeletons  inadvertently  scattered  by  our  diggers,  were  not 
determined. 

Tbe  bones  were  in  fairly  good  condition  though  in  nearly  every  case  the  crania 
were  badly  crushed.  Xo  fractures  were  present,  a  considerable  number  of  diseased 
bones  were  met  with.  Caries  of  the  teeth,  practically  absent  in  Florida  from  other 
than  superficial  skeletons,  was  met  with  upon  a  number  ol'  occasions.  Muscular 
attachments  indicated  less  powerful  individuals  than  many  interred  in  Florida  mounds. 
Xo  marked  platycnemia  or  pilastered  femurs  were  present  with  one  marked  excep 
tion.  A  pair  of  femurs  from  an  undoubtedly  original  burial  have  indices  of  about 
150,  which  is  greater,  we  believe,  than  any  ever  before  recorded.1  This  index  is 

1  Dr.  Topinanl  has  contributed  tin  interesting  note  on  a  femur  found  by  us  in  the  mound  at 
Tick  Island,  Florida.    "Certain  Sand  Mounds  of  the  St.  Johns  River,  Florida,"  Part  I. 


32     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

arrived  at  by  dividing  the  lateral  into  the  fore  and  aft  diameter.  A  tibia  of  the 
same  skeleton  has  an  index  of  51  ;  that  is,  its  lateral  diameter  is  about  half  of  its 
fore  and  aft  diameter.  One  of  these  femurs  and  the  tibia  were  sent  to  the  Army 
Medical  Museum,  Washington.  It  may  interest  the  lay  reader  to  know  that  the 
lateral  flattening  of  the  tibia  and  marked  development  of  the  linea  aspera  of  the 
femur  are  now  known  to  be  the  result  of  muscular  action  as  in  walking,  running, 
ascending  slopes  and  the  like  and  not  racial  characteristics. 

Calcined  Remains. — The  majority  of  the  10  pockets  of  calcined  human  bones 
were  of  moderate  size,  representing  in  each  instance  the  remains  of  one  individual. 
Several,  however,  were  considerable  layers  and  contained  in  addition  numbers  of 
loose  bones  unaffected  by  fire. 

Urn-burials. — Under  perfectly  level  ground,  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
slope  of  the  mound,  was  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type  with  base  perforation  (A), 
upright  and  capped  by  an  imperforate  vessel  of  the  same  type,  inverted  and  with 
out  a  rim  (B).  Within  the  upright  vessel  were  the  remains  of  the  skeleton  of  an 
infant  of  about  2  years  of  age.  These  vessels,  both  badly  crushed,  were  sent  to  the 
Peabody  Museum,  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  they  have  been  carefully  pieced  together. 

Near  the  others  was  a  vessel  of  the  same  type,  a  portion  of  whose  bottom  was 
broken,  but  held  in  place  by  sand.  It  was  otherwise  intact.  In  the  sand,  within 
the  vessel,  were  particles  of  bone  resembling  sawdust,  and  a  portion  of  the  tooth  of 
an  infant.  This  vessel  (C)  was  sent  to  the  Field  Columbian  Museum,  Chicago. 

Forty-eight  feet  E.  by  S.  from  the  point  taken  as  the  center  of  the  mound,  was 
a  vessel  (D)  of  the  ordinary  type,  imperforate  as  to  the  base,  21.5  inches  in  height, 
the  maximum  ever  reported  for  this  type,  and  having  a  diameter  of  mouth  of  18.5 
inches  and  a  maximum  diameter  of  body  of  15  inches.  A  portion  of  the  rim  had 
been  ploughed  away  and  lost.  Near  the  base  were  certain  bones  of  an  infant, 
judging  from  the  femur.  No  teeth  were  present. 

Vessel  E,  of  the  ordinary  type,  badly  broken  by  the  plow,  had  a  circular 
piece  crushed  in.  but  not  removed  from  the  base.  It  was  capped  by  a  decorated 
bowl  (F)  crushed  to  fragments,  some  of  which  were  held  in  place  by  the  sand. 
This  vessel  lias  not  been  included  in  our  list  of  urn-burials,  as  the  most  careful 
search  failed  to  reveal  the  slightest  trace  of  skeletal  remains ;  but  beyond  question, 
such  remains  had  occupied  the  urn  at  an  earlier  period. 

Vessel  G  had  been  a  bowl  of  about  4  gallons  capacity,  with  marginal  incised 
decoration  surmounting  the  complicated  stamp.  Parts  had  been  crushed  and  car 
ried  away  by  the  plow.  Beneath  it  was  charcoal.  Within  it  were  fragmentary 
bones  of  an  infant. 

Vessel  II,  imperforate.  of  the  ordinary  type,  rested  upon  decayed  wood.  It 
contained  fragments  of  bones  of  a  very  young  infant.  Above  the  body  of  the 
vessel,  whose  rim  had  been  carried  away  bv  the  plow,  were1  large  fragments  of 
earthenware,  perhaps  the  remainder  of  a  surmounting  vessel. 

Vessel  I  was  represented  by  the  lower  portion  of  the  body  of  a  vessel  of  the  ordin 
ary  type  with  base  perforation.  It  contained  fragments  of  diminutive  human  bones. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     S3 

Vessel  .1,  of  the  ordinary  type,  also  had  suffered  through  the  agency  of  the 
plow.  No  human  remains  were  discovered  though  their  former  presence  can  hardly 
he  questioned. 

The  method  of  urn-burial  in  this  mound  presented  certain  points  of  similarity  to, 
and  of  divergence  from,  that  of  certain  other  coast  mounds,  as  the  reader  later  on  may 
remark.  All  these  burial  urns  lay  in  the  southern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  mound,  in 
which  they  followed  the  general  custom.  They  contained  the  uncrernated  bones  of 
infants  in  common  with  the  urn-burials  of  Ossabaw  Island  (cremation  apart),  but 
differed  from  the  mounds  of  Sapelo  Island  where  skeletal  remains  of  adults  exclu 
sively  were  in  the  urns  and  of  St.  Catherine's  Island  where,  with  hut  one  exception, 
adult  remains  were  present  in  the  urns. 

Aboriginal  disturbances. — When  parts  of  a  skeleton  or  skeletons  were  dis 
covered  disarranged  adjoining  a  grave  it  was  inferred  that  the  construction  of  the 
grave  was  the  cause  of  the  disarrangement.  Great  care  was  taken  to  distinguish 
these  disturbances  from  bunched  burials. 

Canine  remains. — The  skeleton  of  a  dog.  in  the  last  stage  of  decay,  was  found 
unassociated  with  any  human  remains.  The  interment  of  dogs  in  mounds  of  the 
sea-islands  will  receive  special  reference  in  our  account  of  Mound  I).  Ossabaw  Island. 

STONE. 

In  the  mounds  of  the  Georgia  coast  stone  is  not  abundant.  The  mound  on 
Creighton  Island  proved  somewhat  of  an  exception  to  this  rule. 

Hatchets. — Nine  hatchets,  or  "  celts,"  always  with  skeletons,  were  present  in 
the  mound,  the  longest  somewhat  exceeding  7  inches.  All  were  gracefully  shaped 
and  tapered  into  blunt  points  opposite  the  cutting  edge,  a  feature  characteristic  of 
southern  hatchets  and  still  more  pronounced  in  the  "celts"  of  St.  Domingo  and 
neighboring  islands.  The  material  was  mostly  volcanic  rock,  but  as  mutilation  of 
the  specimen  is  necessary  for  exact  determination,  we  have  not  thought  it  necessary 
to  specify  in  each  case. 

Chisels. — Eighteen  chisels  from  1.7")  to  ">.o  inches  in  length,  having  a  thin 
longitudinal  section,  somewhat  convex  on  one  side  and  usually  Hat  on  the  other, 
lav  at  different  points  with  burials.  In  addition,  were  five  large  chisels  of  graceful 
design,  one  a  beautiful  specimen,  of  slate,  having  a  length  of  12. (i  inches,  a  breadth 
at  the  cutting  edge  of  '2  inches,  tapering  to  1.1  inches  at  the  opposite  end.  Its 
maximum  thickness  is  .7  of  one  inch  (Fig.  l(i).  Another  chisel,  of  banded  slate,  is 
8.7-")  inches  long;  another.  !).S  inches;  and  two  somewhat  smaller. 

Discoidal  stones} — Twelve  discoidal  stones,  as  a  rule  with  burials,  the  largest 
2.o  inches  in  diameter,  came  from  the  mound.  Two  were  of  quartz,  ten  of  volcanic 
or  of  sedimentary  rocks.  One  of  these,  unlike  the  rest,  was  a  pebble,  a  portion  of 
whose  periphery  had  been  pecked  away  to  confer  the  circular  outline.  Certain  dis 
coidal  stones,  some  of  which  are  considerably  larger  than  any  found  by  us.  are 

1  Discoidal  stones  are  treated  at  length  by  the  late  Col.  C.  C.  Jones. 

The  latest  literature  on  the  subject  is  to  be  found  in  Mr.  Gerard  Fowke's  "Stone  Art,"  Thir 
teenth  Annual  Report,  Bureau  of  Ethnology. 


supposed   to  have   been   used   iu   the  Indian  game  of 
chung ke  and  to  have  been  rolled  down  a  level  court. 
Discoidal  stones  of  lava  are  used  in  the  Hawaiian 
Islands  in  the  game  of  maika.     It  is  admitted  that 
many  discoidal  stones,  both  on  account  of  their 
size,  which  is  too  diminutive,  and  because  their 
border  slopes  so  as  to  interfere  with  rolling, 
must  have  served  another  purpose,  probabh 
in   a  different  game.     Those   found   by  us 
show  no  wear  and  cannot  have  been  used 
as  smoothing  stones  or  polishers.      Dis 
coidal  stones  have  never  been  met  with 
by  us  in  Florida. 

It   is  a   curious   fact  that  discs, 
roughly  shaped  from  fragments  of 
earthenware  vessels,  are  frequently 
found  in  mounds  of  the  Georgia 
coast :  and  these  doubtless  saw 
service  in  place  of  their  proto 
types  in  stone.      It  is  inter 
esting  to  note  an  aboriginal 
tendency  to  lighten  labor  ™ 

or  to  supplement  a  defi 
cient  supply  by  the  use 
of  imitations.      In  neo 
lithic   Europe    pend 
ants      made      from 
canine    teeth     of 
large    carnivores 
and  pierced  for 
su  spen s  i  o n 
were  imitated 
in  horn  and 
in    bone,2 
while    in 


the  great  Shields  Mound,3 
near  the  mouth  of  the  St. 
Johns  River,  we  found  many 
canine  teeth  used  as  pendants 
and   imitations  of   them  made 
of  shell.     At  the  present  time, 
the    natives    of     Kings     Island, 
Alaska,  sew  upon  ceremonial  gloves 
used  in  dancing,  beaks  of  a  bird,  the 
puffin     (F.  arctica)    and    with    them, 
reproductions  in  wood.4 


1  Their  presence  had  been  noted  in  other  local 
ities.     "  Stone  Art,"    Thirteenth   Annual  Report, 
Bureau  of  Ethnology,  p.  10!). 
•'  L'Anthropologie,Ju\j- August,  ]8»(i,  p.  480. 
:i  "  Certain  River  Mounds  of  Duval  County,  Flori 
a."     Jour.  Acacl.  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  X. 
4  Collection,  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 


Kig.  16. — Chisel    of   slate.      Mound    north   end  of 
Creigliton  Island.     (Full  size.) 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THK   GKORGIA   COAST.     SO 

Arrow  and  lance  points. — Fourteen  lance  heads  and  arrow  points  were  found, 
of  quart/,  of  chert,  and  of  chalcedony.  No  lance  head  exceeded  4.0  inches  in 
length.  One  had  a  breadth  across  the  base  of  '2.7  inches.  An  interesting  deposit 
of  six  spike-shaped  arrowheads,  ranging  in  length  between  l.li  inches  and  '-{.1 
inches,  were  together  with  a  burial. 

Miscellaneous. — Throughout  the  mound  were  numerous  pebble-hammers,  4 
lying  with  one  burial. 

One  pebble,  about  ?>  inches  in  length,  showed  a  considerable  percentage  of  loss 
through  use  as  a  smoother  or  polisher.  Several  other  smoothing  stones  were 
variously  associated. 

Several  small  fragments  of  soapstone  vessels,  without  any  particular  shape,  had 
been  deposited  with  the  dead.  One  had  a  cross  hatch  decoration. 

Two  nests  of  quartz  pebbles  each  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  lay  with  human 
remains.  These  doubtless  formed  parts  of  rattles,  the  covering  having  disappeared 
through  decay. 

SHELL. 

In  no  mound  in  Georgia  or  in  Florida,  investigated  by  us.  have  shell  beads  in 
any  way  approached  in  number  those  present  in  the  Creighton  Island  mound,  nor 
have  we  elsewhere  found  so  large  a  percentage  of  burials  associated  with  beads. 


Fig.  17. — Gorget  of  shell.     Mound  north  end  of  Creighton  Island.     (Full  size.) 

With  thirty  interments  were  large  beads  of  shell,  while  small  ones  were  present 
with  twenty-eight.  Certain  burials,  however,  having  large  and  small  beads  are 
included  in  both  enumerations.  Exclusive  of  great  quantities  of  small  beads  of 
shell  of  the  ordinary  pattern,  there  were  present  in  the  mound  many  hundreds  of 
massive  beads  having  a  length  of  nearly  two  inches  of  less.  With  one  skeleton 
were  Tio  massive  beads,  while  in  a  layer  of  calcined  remains,  in  addition  to  almost 
innumerable  small  beads,  were  2GT  having  a  diameter  of  half  an  inch  and  upwards. 


30     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

None  of  these  beads  shows  trace  of  fire.  Many  were  large  sections  of  columellae 
probably  belonging  to  Fulgur.  Others  were  Hat,  circular  or  oval  and  pierced  through 
their  greatest  diameter,  sometimes  a  perforation  1.3  inches  in  length.  Beads  of 
this  character  were  known  as  runtees  and  were  highly  esteemed  by  the  aborigines. 

Many  skeletons  in  the  mound  had  twenty  or  thirty  massive  beads  each,  often 
on  the  wrists  and  ankles,  and  some  were  so  loaded  that  the  mere  weight  must  have 
been  an  inconvenience  if  thus  worn  in  life. 

Drinking  cups. — Twenty-two  shell  drinking  cups  were  present  in  the  mound, 
some  inverted,  upon  crania.  All  were  imperforate.  (The  northernmost  occur 
rence  of  base-perforation  in  the  case  of  drinking  cups,  in  our  experience,  was  at 
Darien.)  The  largest  cup  had  a  length  of  12.5  inches  and  bore  an  incised  decora- 


Fig.  18. — Korget  of  shell.     Mound  north  end  of  Creighton  Island.     (Full  size.) 

tion,  unfortunately  almost  imperceptible,  on  a  portion  of  the  back.  One  cup.  by 
the  removal  of  the  beak  and  by  external  grinding,  greatly  resembled  Tennessee  and 
Missouri  vessels  of  earthenware  having  the  conventional  shell  form. 

Gorgets. — With  the  skeleton  of  an  adolescent  was  a  roughly  made  gorget  of 
shell,  irregularly  circular,  having  a  maximum  diameter  of  3  inches.  It  is  decorated 
with  perforations  and  semi-perforations  as  shown  in  Fig.  17. 

With  the  skeleton  of  a  male,  having  many  objects  in  association,  was  a  circular 
gorget,  concavo-convex,  a  shape  conferred  by  the  form  of  the  body  whorl  of  the 
shell  used  in  its  manufacture,  with  a  diameter  of  about  3.8  inches.  Its  decoration 
consists  of  three  concentric  circles  of  somewhat  irregular  incisions  around  a  central 
four-pointed  star.  It  has  a  double  perforation  for  suspension  (Fig.  18). 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE    GEORGIA  COAST.     37 

Another  gorget,  found  with  an  infant  and  shown  in  Fig.  1'.'.  has  a  diameter  of 
about  -.4  inches.  Its  decoration,  carved  and  incised,  is  the  rattlesnake.  A  part  of 
the  margin  was  broken  by  a  blow  from  a  spade. 


Fig.  IS). — Gorget  of  shell.     Mound  north  end  of  Creighton  Island.     (Full  size.) 

Chisels. — Two  chisels,  made  by  grinding  beaks  of  Fnlgur  and  removing 
the  body  whorl,  were  present  in  the  mound. 

Pins. — Shell  pins,  probably  used  in  the  hair,  as  they  are  invariably  found  near 
the  skull,  were  met  with  to  the  number  of  sixteen.  In  length  they  ranged  from  1 
to  3.5  inches. 

Mussel-shells. — Shells  of  various  species  of  fresh  water  mussels  were  found 
with  a  number  of  interments.  In  some  cases  no  perforation  was  present,  in  others 
the  condition  of  the  shell  did  not  allow  determination.  In  no  instance  was  a  per 
foration  found. 

Coral. — With  the  cranium  of  a  skeleton  was  a  mass  of  coral,  14  inches  long, 
smoothed  to  the  form  of  a  "  celt,"  the  cutting  edge  being  rudely  formed,  as  also 
the  blunt  point  of  the  opposite  end. 

PEARLS. 

Nine  pearls,  some  larger  than  a  good  sized  buckshot,  perforated  for  use  as  beads, 
were  found  with  a  burial,  associated  with  beads  of  shell.  Col.  C.  C.  .Jones'  has 
written  at  length  on  pearls  from  southern  mounds. 

BONE. 

Several  small  piercing  implements  of  bone  were  met  with. 

With  a  skeleton  was  an  implement  7.5  inches  in  length  with  a  Hat  point,  made 
from  a  longitudinal  section  of  a  long  bone  of  a  lower  animal  with  the  articular 
portion  removed. 

Together,  also  with  a  skeleton,  were  :  an  implement  wrought  from  the  ulna  of 
a  lower  animal,  6.7  inches  long,  the  articular  portion  remaining,  and  having  its 
minor  extremity  ground  to  an  oblique  section,  probably  for  use  as  a  gouge ;  part  of 
a  wing  bone  of  a  large  bird,  with  a  length  of  9.8  inches,  the  articular  portions 

1  Op.  eit. 

5  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


38 


removed,  having  a  perforation,  through  one-half  its  proximal  extremity 
and  around  the  bone  an  incised  spiral  line  (Fig.  20)  ;  also  the  upper 
half  of  a  similar  object  without  decoration. 


Nl 


|J 


EARTHENWARE. 

Sherds. — Sherds  were  not  abundant  in  the  mound.  The  compli 
cated  stamp  and  various  patterns  of  incised  decoration  were  represented. 
About  1  foot  from  a  skeleton  were  numerous  earthenware  fragments 
representing  parts  of  three  vessels.  One  large  fragment  was  decorated 
exteriorly  with  large  squares,  enclosing  good-sized  circular  spots,  in  red 
pigment. 

Smoothers. — A  number  of  masses  of  roughly  baked  clay,  one-half 
the  area  rounded,  in  size  resembling  a  goose  egg,  were  present  in  the 
mound.  They  had  possibly  been  used  to  smooth  clay  in  the  manufac 
ture  of  earthenware. 

Hones. — A  curious  custom  markedly  prevalent  along  the  Georgia 
coast,  namely,  the  use  of  earthenware  to  sharpen  pointed  tools,  was  fairly 
represented  in  this  mound.  This  custom,  perhaps  induced  by  a  short 
supply  of  stone,  was  carried  to  such  an  extent  that  not  sherds  alone  but 
certain  entire  vessels  were  secondarily  used  as  hones. 

Eartliemvare  discs. — Certain  discs  made  from  fragments  of  earthen 
ware  vessels  were  found.  We  have  spoken  of  these  curious  objects  in 
treating  of  discoidal  stones.  They  are  referred  to  by  the  late  Col.  C. 
C.  Jones.1 

Tobacco  pipes. — Nine  tobacco  pipes,  with  one  exception  undeco- 
rated,  in  shape  of  the  type  common  to  the  coast  were  found,  usually 
with  burials,  but  upon  several  occasions  apparently  unassociated. 
Several  are  fragmentary  to  a  certain  extent  and  a  number  bear  upon  the 
stem  or  upon  the  bowl,  and  sometimes  upon  both,  curious  depressions 
caused  by  chipping,  and  equalling  in  size  about  one-half  the  area  of  one 
surface  of  the  first  joint  of  a  finger.  These  clippings  on  pipes,  found  all 
along  the  coast,  have,  perhaps,  some  ceremonial  significance,  or  were 
made  to  allow  a  firmer  grasp  with  the  fingers.  In  a  number  of  bowls 
was  a  carbonized  coating — doubtless  tobacco.  At  first  thought  one 
might  consider  this  a  proof  of  recent  inhumation,  but  the  indestructi- 
bilitv  of  carbon  is  well  known. 

Near  the  surface,  and  unassociated,  was  a  pipe  having  approxi 
mately  a  height  of  bowl  of  2  inches  and  a  diameter  of  bowl  at  the 
mouth  of  2.2  to  2.4  inches.  The  bowl  is  strikingly  ornamented  with 
knobs,  while  from  the  proximal  upper  margin  is  a  perforated  pro 
jection.  On  the  opposite  side  are  traces  of  a  similar  one  (Fig.  21). 

•  Op.  cit.  p.  ,348. 


Fig.  20. — Object  of  bone.     Mound  north  end 
of  Creighton  Island.     (Full  size.) 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     39 

Coloiu'l  Jones  figures1- a  somewhat  similar  pipe  and  describes  it  as  coming  from 
a  mound  near  Macon,  Ga. 

We  show  (Fig.  22)  another  neat  little  tobacco  pipe  from  this  mound. 

Vessels. — A  detailed  description  of  vessels  used,  or  probably  used,  for  inter 
ments  has  been  given.  Excluding  these,  there  were  present  in  the  mound 
seven  vessels  of  earthenware.  With  two  exceptions,  all  these,  and  all  the  burial 
jars,  were  found  in  the  southernmost  half  of  the  mound. 


Fig.  21. — Tobacco  pipe  of  earthenware.    Mound  north  end  of  Creighton  Island.     (Full  size.) 

Aii  undecorated  bowl,  of  about  one  quart  capacity  with  a  kidney-shaped  section, 
lay  with  the  body  of  an  infant.  It  was  imperforate  as  to  the  base,  as  were  all  the 
seven  under  description. 

With  human  remains,  on  the  bottom  of  a  grave-pit  extending  below  the  base 
of  the  mound,  were  two  vessels.  The  larger,  of  biack  ware,  had  an  ovoid  body 


Fig.  22. — Tobacco  pipe  of  earthenware.     Mound  north  end  of  Cmghton  Island.     (Fnll  size.) 

Hattened  at  the  base,  with  an  upright  neck  rising  from  a  slight  depression  in  the 
body  and  flaring  somewhat  toward  the  margin.  This  vessel,  which  fell  into  many 
fragments  upon  removal,  was  successfully  pieced  together.  Approximate  measure 
ments  :  maximum  diameter  of  body,  5.6  inches ;  maximum  diameter  of  mouth,  4 
inches ;  height,  6.4  inches ;  height  of  neck,  2  inches.  A  cinerary  urn  of  this  type, 
though  much  larger,  is  figured  in  this  Report  as  from  the  Walker  mound. 

>  Op.  at. 


40     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

Tin.1  second  vessel,  somewhat  smaller,  of  yellow  ware,  was  of  the  same  type, 
but  hopelessly  disintegrated. 

With  human  remains  was  an  urn  having  a  globular  body,  a  constricted  neck 
and  flaring  rim.  It  was  decorated  with  two  encircling  rows  of  button-like  prom 
inences.  Height,  5  inches;  diameter  of  body,  -1.3  inches;  diameter  of  mouth,  5.G 


Fig.  23. — Vessel  of  earthenware.     Mound  north  end  of  Creighton  Island.     (Full  size.) 

inches    (Fig.    2>>).       An  almost  similar  vessel,    in   fragments,    came  from  another 
portion  of  the  mound. 

With  human  remains  was  a  vessel  of  black  ware,  undecorated,  having  a  bowl- 
shaped  bodv  flattened  at  the  base,  a  wide  cylindrical  neck  with  a  slight  flare  at  the 
margin,  rising  perpendicularly.  Diameter  of  body,  G.I  inches;  diameter  of  mouth, 
5.2  inches;  height  of  neck,  8.7  inches  (Plate  IV). 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     41 


A  very  rink-  bowl,  faintly  decorated  with  a 
complicated  stamp,  lay  inverted  with  the  skeleton 
of  a  child.  Diameter  of  mouth,  S  inches;  height. 
0.8  inches. 

Several  considerable  fragments  of  medium 
sized,  undecorated  bowls  were  met  with.  It  is 
possible  that  these,  interred  whole,  were  subse 
quently  crushed  and  portions  lost. 

Miscellaneous. — An  earthenware  sphere,  about 
.*")  of  one  inch  in  diameter,  lay  loose  in  the  sand. 

COPPER. 

In  the  eastern  slope  of  the  mound,  -)-3  feet 
N.  E.  by  E.  from  the  center,  on  the  base  of  a  pit, 
5  feet  8  inches  from  the  surface,  on  which  was  an 
unbroken  layer  of  oyster  shells  2  feet  in  thickness, 
lay  a  skeleton  in  the  last  stage  of  decay.  With  it 
were  various  objects,  including  a  chisel  of  copper 
(Fig.  24),  7.0  inches  in  length,  with  a  breadth  across 
the  shank  of  1.2  inches  and  2  inches  across  the 
flaring  cutting  edge.  Its  thickness  is  .27  of  an  inch. 
It  lay  between  wood  or  bark  thoroughly  decayed. 
Toward  the  end  opposite  the  cutting  edge  on  either 
side  was  a  black  band  about  1  inch  in  breadth, 
where,  apparently,  it  had  been  attached  to  a 
handle.  A  longer  chisel  of  the  same  type,  though 
much  thinner,  is  figured  '  by  the  late  Colonel  Jones 
as  coming  from  a  mound  of  the  Nacoochee  A  alley, 
Georgia.  This  chisel  is  the  only  copper  found  by 
us  among  the  sea-islands  of  Georgia.  The  reader 
interested  in  aboriginal  copper  is  referred  to  our 
memoir  in  Part  II  of  "  Certain  Sand  Mounds  of 
the  St.  Johns  River,  Florida."2  where  it  is  shown 
that  the  copper  of  the  mounds  is  native  copper, 
and  far  purer  than  the  article  produced  in  Europe 
during  the  mound  building  period. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

With  four  skeletons  were  masses  of  plumbago, 
perhaps  used  as  a  black  pigment. 

1  Op.  fit.    Plate  VI,  fig.  2. 

2  Jour.  Acad:  Nat.  Sci.,  Vol.  X. 


Fig.  21. — Chisel  of  copper.     Mound  north  end  of 
Oreigliton  Ishinil.     (Full  size.) 


42     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

Small  sheets  of  mica  were  met  with  seven  times.  They  bore  no  particular 
shape  when  found,  and  the  chipped  and  broken  edges  left  any  determination 
doubtful.  Certain  of  these  sheets  were  peculiarly  flexible,  resembling  tin  foil,  a 
characteristic,  we  are  informed,  conferred  by  fire. 

With  numerous  burials  were  masses  of  red  hematite  in  powder. 

ASSOCIATION   OF    ARTIFACTS. 

We  now  proceed  to  give  several  typical  associations  of  artifacts,  the  objects 
composing  which  have  mostly  been  individually  described. 

With  a  bunched  mass  of  bones  were  :  a  large  shell  drinking  cup  ;  small  shell 
beads  ;  sixty-three  massive  shell  beads  ;  nine  pearls. 

With  a  skeleton  having  a  layer  of  fine  charcoal  covering  pelvis  and  thighs 
were  :  fifteen  massive  shell  beads  at  the  neck,  small  shell  beads  at  the  wrist  and 
two  pebbles  near  the  thigh. 

By  the  skeleton  of  an  adolescent  were  :  two  masses  of  plumbago ;  powdered 
hematite  ;  two  shell  cups  ;  three  discoidal  stones  ;  some  delicate  tubular  shell  beads ; 
a  wedge-shaped  arrow  point  of  chalcedony ;  one  pebble ;  one  small  sheet  of  mica. 

With  the  skeleton  of  a  male  were :  ten  cores,  spalls  and  chips  of  chert ;  two 
rude  arrowheads,  one  of  quartz,  one  of  chert ;  a  bit  of  quartz ;  a  number  of  pebbles ; 


S  hell.  Shell. 


Fig.  25. — Diagram  of  grave-pit.     Mound  north  end  of  Creighton  Island. 

several  sherds ;  small  fragments  belonging  to  a  soapstone  vessel ;  a  rude  tobacco 
pipe  of  earthenware. 

With  a  male  skeleton  were  :  three  "  celts  ;"  a  long  chisel  of  slate  ;  another  some 
what  smaller ;  five  small  chisels ;  one  arrowhead ;  one  smoothing  stone  ;  one  nest 
of  small  pebbles ;  seventy-seven  massive  shell  beads  ;  small  shell  beads  ;  a  shell 
gorget ;  a  bone  pin,  much  decayed  ;  an  earthenware  polisher ;  mica ;  hematite. 

Let  into  undisturbed  sand,  upon  the  base  of  an  interesting  pit,  was  a  skeleton 
of  a  male  in  a  semi-reclining  position.  With  the  remains  were  :  large  and  small 
shell  beads;  a  deposit  of  small  pebbles;  a  small  stone  chisel;  a  "celt;"  powdered 
hematite.  From  the  top  of  the  pit  containing  this  body  to  the  level  of  the  undis 
turbed  sand  was  5  feet  10  inches,  -including  1  foot  of  shell,  there  almost  superficial. 
The  exact  width  of  the  pit  could  not  be  determined,  as  the  sand  filling  it  resembled 
that  of  the  mound.  The  pit  had  been  filled  with  sand  to  the  depth  of  2.5  feet  at 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     43 

the  bottom,  and  considerably  higher  around  it.  Oyster  shells  had  then  been  poured 
in,  forming  a  mass  3  feet  10  inches  in  depth,  and  C  feet  across  where  the  pit  was 
covered  by  the  layer  of  .shell  belonging  to  that  portion  of  the  mound.  This  inter 
esting  grave  is  shown  in  section  in  Fig.  25. 

REMARKS. 

The  mound  on  Creighton  Island,  the  largest  of  its  type  investigated  by  us.  is 
i'ull  of  interest  to  the  student  of  archaeology.  Absolutely  nothing  in  any  way 
indicating  white  contact  was  discovered,  and  we  fail  to  see  how,  knowing  the  wide 
distribution  of  objects  through  aboriginal  barter,  it  could  have  been  in  use  after  the 
coming  of  the  whites  and  yet  contain  no  object  derived  from  them. 

Within  view  of  the  landing  at  Creighton  Island  was  a  low  mound  containing 
irregular  strata  of  shell,  which,  though  not  thoroughly  demolished,  had  a  number 

of  trenches  dug  into  it  by  us,  and  a  portion  of  the  center 
excavated.  Human  remains  in  a  layer,  some  cremated  and 
some  unaffected  by  fire,  were  encountered  at  the  center  of  the 
mound.  No  artifacts  were  found  with  them.  In  other  parts 
of  the  mound  were  many  sherds  with  incised  and  with  com 
plicated  decoration.  In  addition  was  what  remained  of  a 
curious  little  earthenware  effigy  of  a  woman,  without  bead, 
arms  or  legs  (Fig.  20). 

Another  eftigy  of  a  woman,  in  a  like  state  of  mutilation, 
was  shown  us  by  a  gentleman  living  on  the  mainland  a  few 
miles  from  Creighton  Island,  who  stated  it  had  been  washed 
f'rom  !l  slu>11  l)hlff  «>»  <-M«»-  <'r«.>k,  IVonting  his  residence. 
Ish""1'  Tllis  nrliro  t!'IH'r(-'(l  gracefully  at  the  waist  and  bore  incised 
ornamentation  front  and  back. 

HOPKINS  MOUND,  BELLEVILLE,  Mclxiosn  COUNTY. 

Belleville,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Sapelo  river,  is  the  landing  of  the  settle 
ment  of  Crescent  about  1.5  miles  inland. 

In  woods,  though  formerly  cultivated  land,  about  1  mile  in  a  westerly  direction 
from  Belleville,  is  a  mound  on  the  property  of  C.  11.  Hopkins,  Esq..  of  Meridian, 
near  Darien,  Ga.,  who  cordially  placed  it  at  our  disposition. 

The  mound  had  been  considerably  dug  into  previously,  but  no  sustained  inves 
tigation  had  been  carried  on.  Its  height  was  1-'!  feet  2  inches;  its  diameter  of  base, 
76  feet.  The  ascent  of  the  most  uniform  side  was  at  an  angle  of  20°.  Investiga 
tion  showed  the  mound  to  begin  at  about  the  commencement  of  its  upward  slope. 
A  section  50  feet  in  breadth  at  the  margin  of  the  base,  including  the  S.  by  W.  to 
the  S.  E.  by  E.  portion,  with  fairly  oblique  sides  converging  toward  the  center,  was 
dug  into  along  the  base.  The  mound  was  made  of  yellow  sand  of  a  lightish  color 
with  but  little  discoloration  from  organic  or  foreign  matter  of  any  sort.  In  the 
central  portion  were  five  or  six  layers  of  oyster  shells  each  about  4  inches  thick, 


44     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE    GEORGIA  COAST. 

and  separated  by  a  little  over  one  foot  of  sand.  A  well-marked  black  bund  at 
about  the  level  of  the  surrounding  territory  extended  to  the  center.  No  great  cen 
tral  pit  was  present  in  the  mound,  nor  were  sub-basal  graves  encountered.  Prac 
tically  no  sherds  were  met  with.  Interments,  encountered  at  but  ten  points,  began 
about  S  feet  in  from  the  margin.  Flexed  burials,  masses  of  bones  of  various 
individuals  together,  an  isolated  cranium  and  pockets  of  fragments  of  calcined 
human  bones  were  present.  With  certain  burials  was  hematite  and,  with  two  or 
three  of  them,  a  few  shell  beads. 

MOUND  NEAR  CRESCENT,  MclNiosn  COUNTY. 

In  territory  covered  with  trees  of  considerable  size,  though  evidently  formerly 
cultivated  ground,  about  one-half  mile  in  a  southerly  direction  from  the  Hopkins 
Mound,  and  about  1  mile  from  Crescent,  was  a  mound  also  the  property  of  C.  H. 
Hopkins,  Esq.,  to  whom  we  again  acknowledge  our  indebtedness  for  permission  to 
investigate. 

This  mound,  which  had  been  dug  into  to  a  comparatively  small  extent,  had  a 
height  of  7  feet  and  a  diameter  of  base  of  70  feet.  The  eastern  half  was  com 
pletely  dug  through  with  the  exception  of  a  small  portion  surrounding  a  large 
forest  tree. 

The  mound,  so  far  as  our  investigation  extended,  was  without  stratification 
and  was  composed  of  yellowish-brown  sand.  A  dark  layer,  from  6  inches  to  1  foot 
in  thickness,  ran  along  the  base.  No  oyster  shells  were  discovered,  nor  were  out 
lying  pits  met  with.  The  mound  did  not  extend  into  level  territory  beyond  the 
commencement  of  the  slope.  Sherds  were  very  infrequent  and  none  bore  the  com 
plicated  stamp.  One  chert  arrowhead  and  a  rough  mass  of  chert,  resembling  an 
uncompleted  spearhead,  lay  loose  in  the  sand. 

Human  remains  were  met  witli  at  sixteen  points,  as  follows  :  G  small  pockets 
of  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones  ;  3  layers  of  calcined  fragments  and  parts 
of  human  bones  unmarked  by  fire  ;  I  skeleton  ;  G  isolated  bones  and  bunched  burials. 

We  append  in  detail  the  most  noteworthy  of  the  above. 

A  skull  and  portion  of  humerus,  very  badly  decayed,  were  about  18  inches 
from  the  surface.  Near  these  on  the  same  level  was  a  pendant  of  plutonic  rock, 
considerably  disintegrated,  having  an  elongated  oval,  longitudinal  section,  about 
;-).'2-j  inches  in  length.  At  the  base  were  small  nicks  or  tally  marks. 

Near  the  surface  were  fragments  of  bones  badly  decayed,  indicating  a  burial 
at  full  length. 

On  the  base,  0  feet  10  inches  from  the  surface,  was  a  layer  of  calcined  and 
uncremated  bones  intermingled.  In  association  was  hematite  and  with  one  skull 
were  six  pearls  perforated  for  use  as  beads. 

Five  feet  from  the  surface  was  an  isolated  cranium.  Toward  the  center  of  the 
mound,  about  6  feet  below  the  surface,  was  a  considerable  mass,  mainly  of  long 
bones,  imbedded  in  a  quantity  of  powdered  hematite. 

Occupying  a  central  position  in  the  mound,  5  feet  9  inches  down,  was  a  layer 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     45 

of  calcined  fragments  of  human  hours  mingled  with  others  showing  no  trace  of  fire. 
Tin-  dimensions  of  this  layer  were  '2  feet  0  inches  by  1  foot  S  inches  by  2  to  >> 
inches  thick. 

In  line  below  the  above,  on  or  in  the  base  layer,  was  a  layer  similar  in  composi 
tion  to  the  one  above  it,  2.5  feet  by  4  feet  by  5  inches  thick. 

The  bones  in  this  mound  were  badly  decayed.  None  was  encountered  within 
15  feet  of  the  margin  of  the  base. 


.- 


WALKER  MOUND,  McLviosn  Corxrv. 

This  mound,  in  "  Cooper's  Field,"  may  be  reached  from  Sutherland  Bluft'  on 
the  Sapelo  river,  from  which  it  is  about  two  miles  distant,  but  is  more  conveniently 
got  at  from  Contentment,  a  small  settlement  on  the  west  side  of  Broro  river,  about 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  its  union  with  the  Sapelo  river.  Broro  river  is  a  salt 
water  channel  joining  the  Sapelo  river  and  Julianton  creek. 

The  mound,  about  1.5  miles  in  a  westerly  direction  from  Contentment,  had  a 
height  of  5  feet  0  inches.  Its  diameter  of  base  was  46  feet.  It  was  the  property 
of  Mr.  James  Walker,  of  Darien,  who  kindly  placed  the  mound  at  our  disposal, 
without  condition,  to  do  with  as  we  saw  fit. 

The  mound  had  previously  been  dug  into  to  an  inconsiderable  extent.  On  its 
northern  margin  grew  a  live-oak  5  feet  in  diameter,  3  feet  from  the  ground.  This 
tree  was  not  removed,  though  otherwise  the  mound  was  totally  demolished,  being 
dug  through  at  a  depth  considerably  below  the  level  of  the  surrounding  territory. 

The  mound  was  composed  of  rich,  loamy,  brown  sand  with  many  local  layers 
of  oyster  shells.  The  usual  charcoal  and  fireplaces  were  present.  A  black  layer 
from  3  inches  to  1  foot  in  thickness,  made  up  of  sand  mingled  with  charcoal  in 
minute  particles,  ran  through  the  mound  at  about  the  level  of  the  surrounding 
territory.  At  the  center  of  the  mound,  measurements  showed  this  layer  to  be  5  feet 
9  inches  below  the  surface. 

Although  of  very  uneven  distribution,  human  remains  were  numerous  in  the 
Walker  mound,  being  encountered  at  thirty-six  points  (see  diagram,  Fig.  27), 
to  which  should  be  added  a  certain  number  presumably  beneath  the  oak  tree  and 
probably  a  few  disturbed  by  previous  investigation. 

As  will  be  noted  from  the  detailed  account  which  follows,  a  deposit  of  human 
remains  was  by  no  means  always  limited  to  those  of  one  individual,  and  it  is  not 
unlikely  that  the  mound  originally  contained  the  complement  of  at  least  seventy- 
five  skeletons,  and  probably  considerably  more.  In  reading  the  detailed  description 
of  the  human  remains  present  in  the  Walker  mound,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
accompanying  diagram,  where  burials  are  shown  with  numbers  corresponding  to 
those  in  the  text. 

1.  Skeleton  of  child  about  8  years  of  age,  on  back,  knees  to  the  right.     A 
considerable  amount  of  charcoal  lay  above  the  cranium. 

2.  Remains  of  skeleton  of  male.     A  fire  had  been  built  immediately  on  the 
pelvis,  which,  with  some  other  bones,  had  been  partially  consumed.     Considerable 

(i  JOURX.  A.  X.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


46     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 


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Fig.  27. — Diagram  of  Walker  Mound. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     47 

charcoal  remained.  The  skeleton  lay  on  the  left  side.  In  association  was  sand, 
pink  from  hematite.  The  remains  lay  at  a  depth  of  2  feet  below  the  surface  of 
the  mound  which  was  here  but  little  above  the  surrounding  level. 

3.  Skeleton  of  female  on  left  side.     Depth  2  feet  4  inches. 

4.  Skeleton  of  male  on  back.      Remains  of  a  fire  along  the  left  side.      Face- 
bones  and  others  in  contact  with  the  Hames,  considerably  burnt.      This  skeleton,  at 
the  extreme  margin,  was  3  feet  from  the  surface,  or  about  that  depth  below  the 
level  of  the  field.     It  was  doubtless  a  grave,  as  unquestionably,  we  think,  were  the 
other  deep  marginal  burials  in  anatomical  order. 

4a.  Twenty-one  inches  from  the  surface  was  an  undecorated  vessel  with 
inverted  rim,  intact.  Its  height  is  4.1  inches;  its  maximum  diameter,  10.2.inches ; 
its  diameter  of  opening,  7.5  inches.  Within  it  were  the  remains  or  a  portion  of  the 
remains  of  the  skeleton  of  an  infant,  in  minute  fragments,  burnt  and  calcined. 


Fig.  -28.— Section  of  vessels  with  calcined  bones.     Walker  Mound.     (One-quarter  size.) 

With  these  burnt  fragments  were  a  number  of  shell  beads  showing  no  trace  of  fire 
— evidently  added  subsequent  to  the  cremation.  This  bowl  had  apparently  been 
placed  upright  on  a  small  heap  of  sand  in  such  a  manner  that  a  larger  undecorated 
vessel  inverted  and  placed  over  it,  the  inside  of  the  bottom  of  the  larger  vessel 
in  contact  with  the  top  of  the  small  one,  prevented  all  ingress  of  sand  as  shown  in 
the  section  (Fig.  28).  The  dimensions  of  this  larger  vessel  are  :  height  0.8  inches  ', 
diameter  lo.o  inches.  In  shape  the  vessel  is  about  square  with  rounded  corners. 

5.  Skeleton  of  female  on  back.     Depth  3  feet. 

6.  Skeleton  of  undetermined  sex.     Depth  22  inches.     The  position  of  this 
skeleton,  disturbed  by  the  digger,  was  not  determined.     About  2  feet  distant  were 
many  fragments  of  a  large  vessel  with  stamped  decoration. 

7.  Skeleton  of  uncertain  sex,  31  inches  down.     Trunk  on  the  back,  legs  to  the 


48     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

right.     On  this  skeleton  was  a  covering  of  wood  or  bark  .25  of  one  inch  thick,  in 
the  last  stage  of  decay. 

8.  Skeleton  of  male,  on  back,  head  and  knees  to  the  right,  o  feet  from  surface. 
Although    the    human    remains    in   the   Walker   mound  were,  comparatively 

speaking,  in  good  condition  yet  the  cranium  of  this  skeleton  (A.  N.  S.  Cat.  No. 
2,158)  was  the  only  one  recovered  in  fair  condition. 

9.  Skeleton  of  female,  fell  with  caved  sand.     Probably  lay  originally  about 
3  feet  from  the  surface. 

10.  Skeleton  of  female  on  back,  2  feet  down. 

11.  Skeleton  of  female,  8  feet  from  surface,  disturbed  by  workmen,  position 
not  determined. 

12.  Skeleton  of  uncertain  sex,  somewhat  on  the  right  side.     This  skeleton, 
coming  from  a  portion  of  the  mound  but  little  above  the  level  of  the  surrounding 
field,  was  nevertheless  4  feet  from  the  surface  and  lay  at  the  base  of  a  grave  dug 
into  the  yellowish  sand  of  the  field,  and  filled  with  the  brownish  sand  of  the  mound. 


I^SW^Iii^PS^^i^i 

^^i^^siii^i^^^ 


(  Scale  i 


Fig.  29.  —  Grave  containing  skeleton  13.     Walker  Mouud. 

13.  Another  grave  containing  a  skeleton  of  a  male  on  left  side.     This  grave, 
at  the  margin  of  the  mound,  showed  a  distinct  line  of  demarcation  from  the  sur 
rounding  soil  to  a  height  of  26  inches  from  its  base.     Above  this  was  a  mass  of 
material  2  feet  in  thickness,  similar  to  the  contents  of  the  mound  at  that  place  and 
to  that  present  in  the  grave.     Through  this  material  the  line  of  the  grave  could  not 
be  traced.     The  surface  of  the  mound  at  this  point  was  about  level  with  the  surface 
of  the  field  (Fig.  29). 

14.  Another  marginal  grave  containing  a  skeleton  4   feet  from  the  surface. 
This  skeleton  was  too  much  affected  by  a  fire  which  had  been  placed  immediately 
above  it  to  permit  determination  of  sex  or  position.     With  the  bones  were  charcoal 
and  fifteen  shell  beads  .5  to  1  inch  in  length. 

15.  Skeleton  of  male  with  legs  to  the  left  and  head  pushed  over  on  the  chest, 
3  feet  from  the  surface. 

16.  Portion  of  skeleton   1.5  feet  down.      The  body,  from  the  pelvis  up,  had 
been  removed  by  a  previous  investigation. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     49 

17.  Skeleton  of  adolescent  of  about  14  years  of  age,  3  feet  down.      It  lay  on 
the  left  side.     The  skull  had  rolled  on  to  the  chest.     Certain  epiphyses  were  separ 
ated  about  0  inches  from  their  respective  shafts. 

18.  Beginning  at  one  foot  below  the  surface  and  extending  to  a  depth  of  from 
8  to  10  inches  was  a  confused  mass  of  human  remains  about  4  feet  in  length  and  3 
feet  in  breadth.      At  one  end  were  eleven  crania  together.      Immediately  above  this 
deposit  were  four  imperforate  shell  drinking  cups  and  three  polished  stone  chisels 
having  a  much  flatter  section  than  the  ordinary  "celt."     With  the  remains  were 
two  pins  of  shell,  the  larger  4  inches  in  length. 

The  entire  surface  of  the  mound  was  covered  with  oyster  shells  to  an  average 
depth  of  (i  inches,  but  above  this  deposit  the  shells  dipped  down  into  the  sand  coming 
in  contact  with  the  upper  surface  of  the  layer  of  bones.  It  was  evident  that  this 
was  a  species  of  grave  made  after  the  completion  of  the  mound,  though,  likely 
enough,  of  about  the  same  period,  since,  as  we  shall  see,  similar  confused  masses  of 
bones  were  present  in  the  mound  at  depths  clearly  showing  their  original  deposit 
(see  section  of  grave,  Fig.  30). 


Scale  in f*ef. 

' 


Fig.  30. — Section  of  grave  18.     Walker  Mound. 

19.  A  grave  similar  in  style  of  construction  to  the  preceding.  Its  depth  from 
the  surface  was  26  inches.  It  extended  in  on  the  same  plane  a  distance  of  5  feet 
with  a  breadth  at  first  of  2  feet,  broadening  to  4  feet  and  narrowing  to  2  feet  at  the 
end.  It  contained  a  mass  of  human  bones,  some  calcined,  and  a  few  bones  of  a 
lower  animal  unaffected  by  fire.  With  the  human  bones  were  numbers  of  shell 
beads  of  various  sizes. 

With  the  bones  was  an  interesting  pathological  specimen1  consisting  of  a 
human  femur  showing  material  shortening  through  fracture.  This  example  of  bone- 
setting — or  rather  the  lack  of  it — by  the  aborigines  is  shown  in  Fig.  31. 

This  deposit  of  bones  had,  on  the  same  plane,  contiguous  to  it  a  pen  or  pyre, 
constructed  of  logs  3  to  8  inches  in  diameter,  which  were  charred  through  and 
through.  The  depth  of  this  curious  pen  was  9  inches ;  its  length,  32  inches ;  its 
width  was  not  exactly  determined  owing  to  caving  of  sand.  Within  this  pyre  were 
calcined  human  remains  in  fragments. 

1  Now  at  the  Army  Medical  Museum,  Washington,  D.  C. 


50     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 


20.  Certain  human  remains,  buried  in 
oyster  shells  at  a  depth  of  about  1  foot,  fell 
with  caved  material  before  exact  data  were 
obtained.  Two  pairs  of  femurs  were  present 
and  the  deposit  probably  included  the  remains 
of  several  persons. 

The  reader's  attention  is  called  to  the 
the  fact  that  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  slice 
down  a  mound  of  sand  as  can  so  readily  be 
done  with  a  mound  of  clay.  Mishaps  through 
caving  sand  are  of  occasional  occurrence  even 
in  the  case  of  the  most  careful  workers. 

"2 1 .  A  deposit  of  calcined  human  remains 
about  1  foot  from  the  surface.  In  association 
were  the  columella  of  a  marine  univalve  and 
eight  shell  beads,  each  about  1  inch  in  length. 

22.      Bones  of  male  in  caved  sand. 

2o.  Skeleton  of  male  on  right  side, 
face  to  the  right.  Nine  inches  down. 

24.  A  cranium  unassociated  with  other 
bones.     Capping  it  was  a  handsome  drinking 
cup  of   shell   having  on  its  outer  side  three 
incised  lines  forming  a  parallelogram  with  a 
portion  of  the  margin  of  the  opening  as  one 
of  the  shorter  sides. 

25.  Four  crania  with  other  bones  and  a 
few  shell  beads. 

20.  Flexed  skeleton  of  a  female  lying 
on  the  right  side,  10  inches  down,  immediately 
above  number  25. 

27.  A  bunched  burial  including  approx 
imately  the  skeletal  complement  of  a  male, 
18  inches  from  the  surface.  With  this  skel 
eton  was  a  vessel  of  good  material,  scaphoid  in  shape  and 
handsomely  decorated  with  a  variety  of  incised  designs  and  a 
knob  on  either  side,  to  which  justice  has  not  been  done  in 
Plate  I,  Fig.  2.  Within  the  lines,  the  decoration  had  been 
supplemented  by  red  pigment  bright  and  fresh  in  appearance 
when  removed  from  the  mound  in  a  state  of  moisture  but 
hardly  apparent  when  dry.  A  small  portion  at  one  end, 
broken  from  the  vessel,  was  present  with  it,  permitting  com 
plete  restoration.  Approximate  measurements :  length,  9.4 
inches;  height,  5.75  inches;  maximum  breadth,  7  inches; 
breadth  of  aperture,  5.75  inches. 


Fig.  31.— Fracture  of  femur.     Walker 
Mouud.     (Full  size.) 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     51 

28.  A  bunched  burial  2  feet  from  the  surface,  a  short  distance  from  27.      With 
it  was  a  vessel  almost  the  exact  counterpart  of  the  one  just  described,  save  that  the 
decoration,  though  on  the  same  lines,  is  much  more  elaborate,  considerably  exceed 
ing  in  pretension   anything  met  with    by  us  in   Florida  or  elsewhere  in  Georgia. 
This  decoration  is  shown  diagrammatically  in  Plate  XVI.     Certain  portions  of  this 
vessel,  lying  with  it,  were  recovered,  and  were  successfully  fitted  into  place-. 

29.  Another  grave,  20  inches  in  depth  from  the  surface.      It  was  filled  with 
oyster  shells  and  contained  the  skeleton  of  a  male  lying  on  the  right  side,  the  right 
arm  under  the  head. 

30.  Beneath  the  roots  of  a  good  sized  tree,  their  tops  8  inches  beneath  the 
surface,  together  in  a  group,  all  upright,  were  five  cinerary  urns  each  filled  almost 
to  the  top  with  a  closely  packed  mass  of  charred  and  calcined  fragments  of  human 
bones.      With  these  bones  were  a  few  shell  beads  showing  no  trace  of  fire.     The 
tops  of  the  vessels  were  covered  with  large  fragments  of  earthenware  belonging  to 
other  vessels,  which  had  prevented  any  entrance  of  sand.     These  vessels  were  of 
poor  material,  some  especially  so,  being  of  slight  consistency  and  held  together  only 
by  the  surrounding  roots  of  the  tree  above  them.     Three  of  the  vessels,  when  the 
matted  mass  of  roots    was  removed,    fell    into    pieces    so    small    in    size    that    all 
hope  of  restoration  was  abandoned.      The  remaining  two.  though  broken  into  many 
pieces,  were  successfully  restored.     The  larger  of  these  t\vo  vessels  has  a  height  of 
about  15  inches,  a  maximum  diameter  of  15.5  inches  and  a  diameter  of  aperture  of 
13.5  inches,  approximately.      It  is  ornamented  beneath  the  rim    with   deep    lines 
incised  before  baking  (Plate  V). 

The  smaller  vessel  has  a  globular  body  with  a  neck  rising  from  a  depression. 
The  ornamentation  is  of  a  complicated  stamp  variety.  Approximate  measurements  : 
height.  15  inches;  maximum  diameter,  14.5  inches;  diameter  of  aperture,  6.25 
inches  (Plate  VI).  In  immediate  association  with  these  cinerary  urns  were  eight 
imperforate  drinking  cups  of  shell. 

31.  Fourteen  inches  down,  in  caved  sand  were  the  bones  of  a  male. 

32.  Sixteen   inches  from  the  surface,  with  sand  tinged  with  hematite,  was  a 
bunched   burial  of   numerous  bones,  surmounted  by  a  mass  of  oyster  shells.      A 
large  number  of  shell  beads  were  in  association. 

33.  This  interesting  grave  occupied  an  almost  central  position  in  the  mound. 
Its  shape  was  that  of  an  inverted  truncated  cone  supposing  the  truncated  end  to  be 
slightly  rounded.     The  top  of  the  grave,  forming  a  portion  of  the  summit  plateau, 
had  a  diameter  of  8  feet ;  the  depth  of  the  grave,  vertically  from  the  surface  to  the 
bottom,  was  5  feet  9  inches.     This  grave,  after  completion,  had  been  lined  with  a 
layer  of  oyster  shells  about  G  inches  in  thickness.     The  bones,  present  in  consider 
able  numbers,  had  apparently  been  poured  in  from  the  northern  side  and  distributed 
in  a  fairly  even  layer  over  the  bottom  and  up  the  northern  side  to  within  2  feet  of 
the  top  (Fig.  32).     On  the  eastern  and  western  sides  were  occasional  loose  bones, 
but  none  was  present  on  the  southern  side,  except  immediately  on  the  base  (Fig.  33). 
The  horizontal  distance  from  the  southern  margin  of  the  bones  on  the  bottom  of  the 


52     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

grave  to  the  northern  margin  along  the  side  of  the  pit  was  5  feet.     The  grave  was 
filled  with  oyster  shells  and  sand  distinctly  darker  than  the  sand  of  the  mound. 

Fifteen  crania,  more  or  less  imperfect,  were  present  with  the  other  bones,  as 
were  certain  calcined  fragments  of  human  bone.     Among  the  long  bones  was  a 


N 


>^-^^W8^>^:;/ 


Fig.  32. — North  and  south  section  of  grave  33.     Walker  Mound. 

femur  19.75  inches  in  length,  indicating  a  male  about  6  feet  in  height — a  stature  we 
believe,  greater  than  indicated  by  any  bones  discovered  by  us  in  Florida  mounds. 

g..     -•    :     •.;.'-.-       f       .•     ...  .'-.:  .     .',.-.        •    -O  '•^jyv-.    *     'F 


V^^'i/'^''-1'^  °    6:i9;-^v^^.'»''V'- 


'.ffy'-:.ti:ief:°!<?.i£&' 

.-'    A-  "  '  ' 


Fig.  33. — Piist  and  west  section  of  grave  33.     Walker  Mound. 

34.  Immediately  beneath  the  grave  just  described  was  a  layer  of  oyster  shells, 
which  merged  with,  and  took  the  place  of,  the  black  band  running  through  the  mound 
to  which  reference  has  been  made.  Particles  of  charcoal  were  abundantly  present 
in  the  oyster  shells  and  it  would  seem  that  these  shells,  at  this  point,  5  feet  9  inches 
from  the  surface,  were  there  at  the  time  when  the  fire  was  made  which 
caused  the  black  Layer  running  through  the  mound.  Just  below  the  layer  of  shell, 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE    GEORGIA  COAST.     53 

which  WHS  1  foot  in  thickness,  in  chirk  brown  sand  totally  dissimilar  to  the  yellow 
sand  of  the  field,  which  enclosed  the  grave  on  either  side,  was  a  circular  deposit  of 
human  bones,  having  a  diameter  of  about  5  feet.  These  bones  included  five  crania 
and  with  them  were  numerous  shell  beads,  many  tubular;  one  being  over  1  inch  in 
length.  In  one  of  the  crania  was  a  bright  yellow  sand  differing  in  shade  from  any 
in  the  mound.  Small  quantities  of  this  sand  were  scattered  here  and  there  among 
the  bones. 

35.     A  few  bones  of  a  male  from  superficial  caved  sand. 

HUMERI. 


Male. 

Female. 

Uncertain. 

Perforated. 

Not  Perforated. 

Perforated. 

Not  Perforated. 

Perforated. 

Not  Perforated. 

Right 

6 

15 

7 

6 

3 

6 

Left 

8 

9 

5 

5 

7 

10 

Throughout  the  mound  were  the  usual  loose  sherds  of  accidental  introduction. 
At  several  points  were  large  vessels  of  poor  material  crushed  beyond  repair.  None 
of  these  vessels  contained  human  remains. 

One  small  chisel  of  stone  was  found  loose  in  the  sand. 

REMARKS. 

Iii  no  one  mound  investigated  by  us  has  there  been  so  well  exemplified  the 
various  forms  of  aboriginal  disposition  of  the  dead — the  burial  in  anatomical  order ; 
the  burial  of  portions  of  the  skeleton  ;  the  interment  of  great  masses  of  human 
bones ;  the  pyre ;  the  loose  deposit  of  incinerated  remains ;  the  burial  of  cinerary 
urns. 

To  a  marked  extent  in  this  mound  are  noted,  side  by  side,  inhumation  and 
incineration. 

MOUND  NEAR  CONTENTMENT,  MC!NTOSH  COUNTY. 

Contentment,  a  small  settlement  of  colored  persons,  is  on  the  bank  of  the 
Broro  river,  a  water-way  joining  Sapelo  river  and  Julianton  creek. 

In  woods  on  ground  probably  formerly  under  cultivation,  about  one-half  mile 
in  a  northerly  direction  from  Contentment,  was  a  symmetrical  mound  in  the  form 
of  a  truncated  cone.  Its  sides,  by  their  steepness,  gave  evidence  that  no  cultivation 
on  the  mound  proper  had  ever  been  attempted.  A  comparatively  small  and  shallow 
excavation  was  the  only  trace  of  digging  previous  to  our  own.  The  mound  was 
kindly  placed  at  our  disposal  by  R.  H.  Knox,  Evsq.,  of  Darien,  under  whose  control 
the  property  is. 

The  mound  had  a  height  of  9  feet  9  inches,  a  base-diameter  of  76  feet.     The 


7  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


54     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE    GEORGIA   COAST. 

southern  half  of  the  mound  was  dug  away  leaving  a  cross-section  E.  and  W.  No 
pits,  outlving  or  in  the  body  of  the  mound,  were  met  with.  A  short  distance  in 
from  the  margin,  a  black  band  0  to  10  inches  in  thickness  was  noticed  extending 
through  the  part  investigated  by  us,  at  the  level  of  the  surrounding  territory. 
Apparently  there  had  been  considerable  general  disturbance  beneath  this  band  but 
as  the  sand  of  the  mound  resembled  that  of  the  surrounding  territory,  any  exact 
line  of  demarcation  was  difficult  to  determine.  No  oyster  shells  in  quantity  were 
present,  though  the  usual  fire-places  and  pockets  of  charcoal  sometimes  contained  a 
few  scattering  shells. 

Human  remains  were  encountered  45  times,  at  all  depths,  and  extending  in 
from  the  margin.  Bones,  in  the  last  stage  of  decay,  at  times  hardly  indicated  the 
form  of  burial.  Occasionally  burial  of  skeletons  was  indicated,  while  again,  isolated 
skulls  or  skulls  with  a  few  other  bones  were  met  with.  With  some  burials  were 
masses  of  hematite  in  powder,  sometimes  extending  the  entire  length  of  the  skeleton. 
With  one  were  three  pebbles,  all  showing  use  as  smoothing  stones.  Near  human 
remains  was  a  chert  lance-head  and  with  another  interment  was  an  undecorated 
bowl,  broken  by  caving  sand.  A  pebble  and  certain  fresh-water  mussel,  and  clam 
shells  lay  near  an  interment. 

Seven  pockets  of  calcined  bones,  some  including  fragments  entirely  unaffected 
by  fire,  were  met  with. .  Centrally  in  the  mound,  7  feet  from  the  surface,  with  no 
pit  apparent,  was  a  layer  of  calcined  and  uncremated  human  bones,  about  0  inches 
thick.  With  it  were  a  graceful  barbed  arrowhead  and  a  flat  mass  of  gneissic  rock 
about  4.-")  inches  bv  2.5  inches  with  two  parallel  longitudinal  grooves,  probably 
made  by  sharpening  pointed  implements  or  by  grinding  shell  beads  into  shape. 

A  considerable  number  of  vessels,  all  imperforate,  so  far  as  could  be  determined, 
and  undecorated  or  with  an  ordinary  check  stamp,  were  present  in  the  portion  of 
the  mound  investigated  by  us. 

Just  beneath  the  surface  was  a  pot  with  checked  stamp  decoration,  a  rounded 
base  and  a  somewhat  cylindrical  body — a  common  cooking  vessel.  Its  height,  and 
its  maximum  diameter,  which  was  at  its  mouth,  were  11.75  inches.  In  common 
with  all  the  stamped  pots  encountered  in  this  mound,  its  body  was  covered  with 
soot  showing  its  use  to  have  been  but  a  secondary  one.  It  contained  the 
calcined  remains  of  not  more  than  one  individual  and  was  surmounted  by  a  con 
siderable  number  of  small  and  large  fragments  belonging  to  an  undecorated  bowl. 
It  fell  into  pieces  upon  removal  from  the  sand. 

Eighteen  feet  east  of  the  center,  just  beneath  the  surface  and  about  one  loot 
apart,  were  two  interments  in  vessels,  in  all  respects  similar  to  the  one  just  described. 

Near  these  was  an  inverted,  undecorated  pot  somewhat  resembling  in  shape  a 
reversed  cone  with  rounded  apex.  It  covered  a  few  fragments  of  calcined  human 
bones  deposited  on  the  sand.  Approximate  measurements:  height,  7.75  inches; 
maximum  diameter  and  width  of  mouth,  10.5  inches. 

Closely  associated  with  the  foregoing  bowl  was  an  inverted,  checked  stamped 
vessel  similar  to  those  first  described,  covering  calcined  remains  lying  on  the  sand. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE    GEORGIA  COAST.     55 

Another  vessel  also  bearing  the  check  stamp,  half  filled  with  calcined  remains, 
had  been  capped  by  a  vessel  or  a  large  part  of  a  vessel  represented  by  small  frag 
ments  when  found. 

In  another  portion  of  the  mound  were  the  remains  of  two  undecorated  vessels 
in  small  fragments.  One  had  presumably  capped  the  other,  judging  by  the  position. 
A  number  of  incinerated  fragments  of  human  bone  were  present. 

In  caved  sand  from  the  surface  were  several  other  broken  vessels  with  incinerated 
bone,  similar  to  the  foregoing. 

Specimens  of  the  earthenware  from  the  mound  at  Contentment  were  sent  to 
the  Peabody  Museum,  Cambridge  Mass.,  and  to  the  Davenport  Academy  of  Science, 
Davenport,  Iowa. 

Low  MOUNDS  NEAR  BRORO  NECK,  Mclxmsn  COUNTY. 

Broro  Neck,  a  settlement  of  colored  people,  is  about  1  mile  northeast  of  Con 
tentment.  A  mound  on  the  outskirts  of  the  settlement  is  on  the  property  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Grant  (colored).  Its  height  is  3  feet  4  inches.  It  is  55  feet  across  tin- 
base.  '  It  was  about  one-half  dug  through.  At  places  were  great  quantities  of  char 
coal  and  pockets  of  hematite.  A  number  of  deposits  of  fragments  of  calcined 
bones  were  met  with  and  a  few  portions  of  long  bones  showing  no  mark  of  fire. 
With  skeletal  remains  were  :  two  hammer-stones,  one  cockle-shell  (Cardium],  one 
good-sized  shell  bead. 

About  one  hundred  yards  from  the  preceding  mound,  on  the  property  of  Mr. 
E.  AV.  Paris  (colored),  is  another  mound,  which  has  evidently  been  ploughed  over 
for  a  number  of  years.  Its  present  height  is  1  foot  8  inches;  its  diameter  of  base, 
44  feet.  The  mound  was  trenched  to  the  center.  About  19  inches  from  the  surface 
was  a  deposit  of  calcined  human  bones  with  a  small,  coarse,  undecorated  earthen 
ware  bowl.  The  surrounding  sand  was  scarlet  from  admixture  of  hematite. 
Nothing  else  of  interest  was  met  with. 

SAPELO  ISLAND,  MC!NTOSH  COUNTY.     BOURBON. 

Sapelo  Island,  which,  with  St.  Catherine's  and  Ossabaw,  was  reserved  for  their 
individual  use  by  the  Indians,  when  much  of  the  coast  was  ceded  away,1  has  a 
settlement  at  the  northern  end  reached  by  turning  into  a  small  creek  from  Sapelo 
sound  and  continuing  up  this  creek  a  distance  of  about  '2  miles.  This  settlement, 
called  "  Boobone  "  by  the  colored  inhabitants,  is  said  originally  to  have  received  the 
name  Bourbon  from  French  settlers. 

Extending  back  from  the  landing  is  an  extensive  tract  of  rich  land,  undulating 
with  shell  deposits,  long  under  cultivation,  the  property  of  Amos  Sawyer,  Esq.,  of 
Arlington,  R.  I.,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  cordial  permission  to  make  complete 
archaeological  investigation . 

About  one  quarter  of  a  mile  S.  E.  by  S.  from  the  landing  was  a  mound,  the 

1  "The  History  of  Georgia,"  Captain  Hugh  McCall,  2  vok,  Savannah,  1811,  Vol.  I,  page  37. 


56     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

usual  truncated  cone  in  shape  and  still  symmetrical,  though  rather  considerable 
superficial  digging  had  been  attempted. 

Its  height  was  8  feet ;  its  diameter  at  base,  72  feet.  The  surface  of  the  mound 
was  covered  with  shell.  With  a  beginning  on  the  level  ground  12  feet  beyond  the 
margin  of  the  base,  to  ascertain  the  presence  of  outlying  burials,  none  of  which  were 
met  with,  the  entire  southern  half  of  the  mound  was  sliced  down,  leaving  an  PI  and 
W.  cross-section.  Next  the  remaining  half  was  dug  away  with  equal  care. 

The  mound  presented  no  uniform  stratification.  It  was  composed  of  local  layers 
of  bright  yellow  sand  dug  from  beneath  the  surface  loam  of  the  field  ;  of  dark  sand 
containing  occasional  shells,  mostly  belonging  to  the  oyster  ;  of  shells  with  admixture 
of  dark  sand  and,  at  the  surface,  of  a  layer  of  midden  refuse  made  up  of  crushed 
shell  and  loam,  varying  from  8  inches  to  2  feet  in  thickness  and  occasionally  extend 
ing  still  farther  down  over  burials  let  in  from  above.  All  the  shell  layers  of  the 
mound,  some  of  oyster  shells,  some  of  shells  of  the  salt-water  mussel,  seemed  dis- 


.  /  .       , 

Mark  sanoL  and  S/K//     f     JJtslurtfecL  sand 


Fiji.  34. — Section  of  pit.     Mound  at  Bourbon. 

tinctly  to  be  crushed  and  packed  together  as  though  trampled  upon  for  a  consider 
able  period  o'f  time  which  seemed  to  indicate  that  the  mound  had  slowly  grown 
for  a  period  of  years,  during  which  it  was  treated  as  a  place  of  abode. 

There  was  present  in  the  mound  no  central  pit  such  as  is  usually  found  in 
mounds  of  the  coast,  though,  beginning  a  little  north  of  the  center  was  a 
general  dip  in  the  lower  layers  of  the  mound  over  a  pit  extending  2  feet  into  undis 
turbed  sand,  containing  a  skeleton  at  length.  This  pit  had  at  the  base  a  breadth 
of  o  feet,  its  exact  length  we  were  unable  to  determine  owing  to  frequent  caving  of 
sand  though  it  must  have  exceeded  G  feet.  The  layers  above  this  pit,  when  of 
shell,  in  common  with  all  shell  layers  of  the  mound,  were  compact  through  tread 
of  feet  and  seemed  to  indicate  that  the  pit  had  been  dug  at  an  early  stage  of  the 
building  of  the  mound  and  but  partially  filled  and  that  layers  forming  afterwards 
shared  in  the  depression.  Fig.  34  gives  a  lateral  section  of  this  pit  and  of  the 
mound  above  it. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     57 


Though  certain  other  pits  were  unmistakably  present,  with  two  or  three  excep 
tions  in  the  marginal  portion,  we  noticed  none  extending  into  undisturbed  sand 
below  the  base,  and  though,  owing  to  a  rainy  season,  the  base  of  the  mound  was 
just  above  water-level  which  induced  the  caving  of  sand  and  made  exact  scrutiny 
difficult,  we  believe  few,  if  any,  graves  escaped  us.  In  such  parts  of  the  body  of 
the  mound  as  were  made  up  of  yellow  sand,  burials  were  not  present  though  many, 
apparently  not  in  pits,  lay  in  the  dark  sand.  Many  more  seemed  to  be  just  beneath 
a  thickening  in  the  superficial  layer  of  midden  refuse  while,  in  numerous  cases, 
grave-pits  extending  into  the  dark  sand  were  filled  with  shell  debris  from  the 
surface  layer. 

HUMAN'    REMAIN'S. 

In  the  mound,  human  remains  were  encountered  at  192  points  and  others,  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind,  must  have  been  removed  by  previous  digging  and  by  the 
use  of  the  plow  on  the  lower  portions  of  the  mound. 

The  192  burials  present  in  the  mound,  at  the  time  of  its  demolition  by  us,  may 
be  classified  as  follows  : 

115  Skeletons.       .  8  Calcined  deposits. 

11  Aboriginal  disturbances.  3  Skeletons  in  urns. 

15  Late  disturbances.  3  Calcined  remains  in  urns. 

31  Decayed  and  crushed  remains.  4  Not  noted. 

2  Layers  of  uncremated  bones. 
Skeletons. — Of  those  successfully  removed  there  were : 

43  Males.  5  Adolescents. 

40  Females.  11  Children.1 

12  Uncertain.  4  Infants.1 

Many  of  the  skeletons  lay  between  decayed  wood  or  bark.  Skeletons  were  as 
to  position  as  follows  : 


Flexed  on 

right  side. 

Flexed  on 
left  side. 

At  lengtli. 

Special. 

Male 

27 

5 

6 

5 

Female  « 

28 

4 

2 

5 

Uncertain 

8 

1 

1 

2 

Adolescent 

3 

2 

Children  * 

8 

2 

Infants 

3 

1 

The  skeletons  at  length  were  face  down  and  all  were  below  the  base,  on  it,  or 
well  down  in  the  body  of  the  mound. 
Special  positions  were  as  follows  : 
Burial  No.  10,  child  of  about  10  years,  flexed  with  trunk  on  back. 

1  Eight  additional  skeletons,  badly  crushed  and  decayed,  two  certainly  of  children  and  six  of 
infants,  are  included  with  the  crushed  and  decayed  remains. 

2  Data  as  to  the  side  of  one  flexed  female  skeleton  and  of  one  child  are  omitted  in  the  field  notes. 


58     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

Burial  No.  38,  skeleton  of  infant,  crushed  and  partly  calcined.     Exact  position 
not  determined. 

Burial  No.  43,  skeleton  of  male  in  semi-reclining  position,  head  forward  on 
chest. 

Burial  No.  90,  skeleton  of  male,  face  down,  and  extended  as  far  as  the  knees, 
with  legs  drawn  back  and  foot  bones  almost  in  contact  with  the  pelvis. 

Burials  Nos.  99  and  100,  skeletons  of  child  and  of  adolescent,  crossing  at  hips, 
the  child  on  top.  Both  skeletons  were  extended  to  the  knees  with  legs  flexed  back. 

Burial  No.  101,  skeleton  of  female  with  trunk  on  back,  thighs  drawn  up  toward 
body  but  spread  apart,  with  legs  drawn  back  on  thighs. 

Burial  No.  139,  skeleton  of  female  on  back  with  lower  extremities  flexed  up 
on  body. 

Burial  No.  153,  female,  same  position  as  101. 

Burial  No.  154,  skeleton  of  a  male  at  full  length,  in  water,  10  feet  below  sur 
face,  the  upper  part  crushed  but  showing  no  trace  of  fire.  The  thighs  and  lower 
part  of  the  arms  with  the  hands  were  calcined.  This  burial  might  be  included 
among  skeletons  at  length. 

Burial  No.  158,  skeleton  of  adolescent  on  back,  the  thighs  partly  flexed  and 
separated. 

Burial  No.  1GO,  a  skeleton  of  uncertain  sex  in  a  semi-sitting  position,  head 
over  on  chest.  The  cranium  was  saved  (Acad.  Nat,  Sci.,  Cat.  No.  2,163).1 

Burial  No.  168,  skeleton  of  male  on  back  as  far  down  as  could  he  determined, 
the  legs  having  fallen  with  caving  sand.  This  skeleton  was  surrounded  by  a  thin 
layer  of  sand,  colored  red  with  powdered  hematite. 

Burials  Nos.  173  and  174,  part  of  a  skeleton  of  uncertain  sex,  face  down 
including  the  pelvis.  At  this  point  another  skeleton,  beginning  with  the  cranium 
and  including  about  one-half  of  the  thigh  bones,  continued  in  the  same  direction. 
Then  came  thighs,  legs  and  foot  bones  in  anatomical  order,  probably  belonging  to 
the  first  skeleton.  These  remains  lay  at  a  depth  of  4  feet  from  the  surface  and 
were  unquestionably  an  aboriginal  disturbance. 

Burial  No.  177,  a  skeleton  of  a  female,  lying  on  back  to  the  knees,  with  legs 
flexed  back-on  thighs. 

Burial  No.  180,  skeleton  of  female,  trunk  on  back,  thighs  and  legs  flexed  to 
the  right. 

Not  included  under  the  head  of  special  positions,  since  both  were  flexed,  were 
burials  Nos.  58  and  59,  consisting  of  the  skeleton  of  a  female  holding  between  its 
arms  the  fragile  remains  of  a  very  young  infant,  The  crania  were  in  contact. 

Of  the  115  skeletons,  71  headed  between  S.  E.  and  S.  W.,  many  crania  point 
ing  due  S. 

The  remaining  44,  with  the  exception  of  a  woman,  a  child  and  an  infant  which 
are  omitted  from  our  field  notes,  headed  as  follows  :  E.  S.  E.,  3  ;  E.  by  S.,  2  ; 

1  But  one  other  cranium  was  in  condition  to  preserve  in  this  mound,  namely  that  from  Burial 
No.  73,  a  male  (Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Cat.  2,162). 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     51) 

E.,  11;    E.  by  N.,  1  ;    E.  N.  E.,  1  ;    N.  E.,  4  ;    N.  N.  E.,  <! ;    N.,  5;    N.  N.  W..  1  ; 

N.  W.,  1  ;  W',  4  ;  W.  by  S.,  2  ;  S.  W.  by  W,  2  ;  W.  S.  W.,  1. 

Aboriginal  disturbance. — Aboriginal  disturbance  includes  burials  cut  through 
by  subsequent  interments  and  possibly  parts  of  skeletons  accorded  independent 
burial. 

Late  disturbance. — Under  this  bead  we  include  bones  scattered  bv  the  plow, 
by  superficial  digging  previous  to  our  investigation,  by  caving  sand  and  inadvertent 
disturbance  by  our  men. 

Decayed  and  crushed  remains. — We  have  thus  designated  all  such  as  seemed 
to  be  single  skeletons  which,  through  decay  and  through  pressure  were  past  deter 
mination  as  to  sex,  position  and  direction.  It  is  not  only  possible  but  probable, 
however,  that  fragmentary  aboriginal  burials  and  small  layers  of  bones  of  various 
individuals,  badly  decayed,  have  been  included. 

Layers  of  uncremated  bones. — Two  such  layers  unconnected  with  cremated 
remains  were  distinctly  present  in  the  mound.  With  one  layer  were  five;  crania; 
with  the  other,  six. 

Calcined  deposits. — Of  the  eight  calcined  deposits,  the  majority  had  fragments 
of  human  bones  showing  no  trace  of  fire,  associated  with  them.  Some  contained 
the  remains,  or  parts  of  the  remains  of  at  least  three  individuals,  while  others 
probably  represented  but  one  skeleton. 

Burial  No.  117  was  confined  to  the  cremated  remains  of  a  child,  a  few  remnants 
of  whose  bones  were  unburnt. 

A  small  pocket  of  calcined  bones  lay  upon  decayed  wood. 

We  have  elsewhere  referred  to  two  partially  cremated  skeletons. 

Skeletons  in  urns. — Vessel  C,  Burial  No.  134,  15  feet  N.  E.  by  N.  from  the 
center  of  the  mound,  with  its  base  20  inches  from  the  surface,  its  top  just  beneath 
the  superficial  shell  layer,  there  7  inches  thick,  was  a  vessel  with  incised  decoration 
below  the  margin  and  a  faint  complicated  stamp  on  the  body.  Decayed  wood  was 
above  and  below  it.  The  vessel,  crushed  to  fragments,  was  partly  held  together  by 
sand  and  shells.  It  contained  the  long  bones  of  an  adult  skeleton,  parallel  to  each 
other  and  perpendicular  to  the  base  on  which  lay  various  smaller  bones  capped  by 
the  skull. 

Near  the  preceding,  forming  a  cluster  with  it  and  two  other  vessels,  was  a  pot. 
Burial  No.  135,  Vessel  D,  on  its  side,  having  complicated  stamp  ornamentation. 
Decayed  wood  lay  above  and  below  it,  Its  condition  was,  if  possible,  worse  than 
that  of  the  preceding.  It  contained  bones  of  an  adult  arranged  similarly  to  those 
in  Vessel  C,  and  two  polished  stone  hatchets,  one  rude  tjuart/  arrowhead,  one 
undecorated  earthenware  tobacco  pipe,  and  one  fresh-water  mussel  shell,  fragmentary 
through  decay. 

Vessel  F,  Burial  No.  137,  one  of  the  group,  had  a  complicated  stamped  decor 
ation,  but,  unfortunately,  was  as  fragmentary  as  its  neighbors.  It  contained  the 
remains  of  an  adult  arranged  as  in  the  other  vessels  and  a  circular  piece  of  soap- 
stone  with  incised  decoration,  to  be  described  under  another  heading. 


00     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

Calcined  remains  in  urns. — Vessel  A,  Burial  No.  25,  20  feet  S.  W.  by  W. 
from  the  center,  was  a  flat-bottomed,  undecorated,  globular,  imperforate  vessel  of 
about  two  gallons  capacity,  slightly  constricted  at  the  neck.  It  was  crushed  to 
fragments.  Within  were  the  calcined  remains  of  an  adolescent. 

Vessel  E,  Burial  No.  136,  made  the  fourth  of  the  group  to  which  reference  has 
been  made.  It  appeared  to  be  of  the  ordinary  type  but  was  crushed  to  small  pieces. 
It  seemed  to  have  been  about  half  full  of  incinerated  human  remains. 

Vessel  G,  Burial  No.  163,  9  feet  N.  N.  W.  from  the  center,  lay  in  fragments 
over  part  of  a  layer  of  calcined  remains.  Its  decoration  was  red  bands  running 
laterally.  The  arrangement  of  the  fragments  seemed  to  indicate  a  former  inverted 
position  for  the  vessel. 

Not  noted. — Four  burials  included  under  this  head  were  interments  where  full 
data,  though  obtainable,  are  omitted  from  our  field  notes. 

EARTHENWARE. 

Sherds. — Sherds  were  of  infrequent  occurrence,  the  majority  undecorated  or 
cord-marked,  though  a  few  had  incised  decoration.  Excluding  the  burial  jars  and 


Fig.  35. — Vessel  of  earthenware.     Mound  at  Bourbon.     (Full  size.) 

one  or  two  sherds  believed  to  be  superficial,  the  complicated  stamp  was  not  noted 
in  the  mound. 

Vessels. — We  have  described  certain  vessels  used  for  burial  purposes. 

With  Burial  No.  26,  that  of  a  child  about  eight  years  old,  was  an  urn  of  about 
three  pints  capacity  with  globular  body,  constricted  neck  and  flaring  rim.  Beneath 
the  rim  on  the  outside  was  an  encircling  row  of  button-like  protuberances  which 
had  been  modeled  and  pressed  on  to  the  clay  before  baking.  Certain  of  these  had 
dropped  off. 

Vessel  B,  an  nndecorated  bowl  with  rounded  base  and  slightly  inverted  rim, 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE    GEORGIA  COAST,     ill 

has  ;i  diameter  at  mouth  of  10  inches;  a  maximum  diameter  of  body  of  11. 75 
inches;  a  height  of  8  inches.  It  contained  a  certain  amount  of  decayed  wood  and 
a  small  quantity  of  material  resembling  sawdust — perhaps  the  last  vestige  of 
human  remains. 

With  Burial  No.  92,  a  child  about  seven  years  old,  was  a  globular,  undecorated 
pot  of  about  one  quart  capacity. 

With  Burial  No.  03,  probably  an  aboriginal  disturbance,  was  a  curious  vessel 
of  earthenware,  perforated  for  suspension  at  either  side  of  the  opening  (Fig.  35), 
having  a  height  of  2.5  inches;  a  maximum  diameter  of  3  inches.  Its  use  is  not 
apparent  though  it  strongly  recalls  that  numerous  class  of  fantastically  shaped 
mortuary  vessels  of  earthenware  found  in  many  tumuli  of  Florida.  A  hole  had 
been  knocked  through  its  base,  the  only  case  of  base-perforation  noted  by  us  in  the 
mound  though  certain  of  the  burial  jars  were  too  fragmentary  ibr  determination  as 
to  this  point. 

In  caved  sand  were  several  fragments  of  an  oblong  vessel  having  upright  sides 

and  inverted  margin.  The  vessel,  or  rather 
such  parts  as  were  recovered,  have  on  the 
base  and  sides — an  unusual  occurrence — an 
intricate  incised  decoration.  Its  height  must 
have  been  1.1  inches;  its  breadth  of  both".  '1 


Fig.  :i7. 
Tobacco  pipes  of  earthenware.     Mound  at  Bourbon.     (Full  size.) 

inches;  of  opening,  1.5  inches.  Its  original  length  is  not  obtainable  as  a  part  is 
missing. 

With  Burial  No.  113,  a  male,  was  a  cord-marked  bowl  of  about  one  quart 
capacity. 

Burial  No.  154  had  with  it  a  small  bowl  in  fragments  bearing  the  checked, 
stamped  decoration. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  pieces  of  earthenware  ever  met  with  by  us  lav 
with  Burial  No.  33,  a  mass  of  mingled  calcined  and  unburnt  bones,  and  consisted 
of  a  dish  I'l.'l  inches  in  length,  7.7  inches  across  and  4.5  inches  in.height.  Beneath 
the  rim,  exteriorly,  is  a  row  of  large  protuberances  and,  in  addition,  the  dish  bears 
traces  of  ornamentation  by  the  use  of  red  pigment.  From  either  end  project  handles, 
one  horizontal  the  other  perpendicular — a  curious  feature.  This  interesting  piece 
is  intact  (Plate  VII). 


8  JOURX.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


02     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

Tobacco  pipes. — Thirteen  tobacco  pipes  were  present  in  the  mound — several 
somewhat  fragmentary.  But  two  showed  any  serious  attempt  at  ornamentation. 
One  of  these  (Fig.  36)  has  a  height  of  2  inches,  a  diameter  of  howl  of  1.5  inches 
and  a  diagonal  length  of  2.8  inches,  approximately.  The  howl  is  supported  by  a 
figure  probably  representing  a  bird.  Part  of  the  body  and  tail  served  for  the 


Fig.  38. —Tobacco  pipe  of  earthenware.     Mound  at  Bourbon.     (Full  size.) 

reception  of  the  stem.      Found  with  this  pipe  was  a  small  undecorated  one  shown 

in  Fig.  37.     The  bowl  forms  an  unusually  obtuse  angle  with  the  remainder  of  the  pipe. 

In  caved  sand  was  a  pipe  representing  a  human  head.     The  mouth  is  open 

showing  the  teeth  and  a  curious  head  dress  projects  from  the  back  of  the  head.      A 


Fig.  3!l. — Tobacco  pipe  of  earthenware.     Mound  at  Bourbon.     (Full  size.) 

portion  of  this  pipe  is  wanting.  Height  and  diameter  of  bowl,  each  1.9  inches 
(Fig.  38). 

An  undecorated  but  rather  gracefully  shaped  tobacco  pipe  (Fig.  39)  lay  with 
a  burial. 

A  tobacco  pipe  of  the  poorest  material  and  rude  in  form,  apparently  sun-dried, 
was  recovered  in  pieces  of  hardly  any  consistency,  though  after  drying  it  was  fairly 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE    GEORGIA  COAST.     G3 

well  put  together.      Diagonal  length,  5.5  inches ;  diameter  of  howl  and  height,  each 
3.3  inches ;  diameter  of  stem,  2  inches ;  orifice  for  stem,  1  inch. 


SHELL. 

Cups. — Thirty-four  shell  drinking  cups,  none  remarkable  for  size  or  finish,  were 
taken  from  the  mound,  ten   forming  one  deposit.     All  were  imperforate  and  three 

varied  from  any  yet  found  by  us  in  Florida 
or  in  Georgia,  we  believe,  in   that   they 
were  wrought,  not  from  Fulgur  perver- 
sum,  whose  opening  is  to  the  left,  but  from 
a  right  handed  Fulgur  (canaliculatum}. 
Chisels. — Eighteen  shell  chisels  were 
associated  with  human  remains.     These 
rather  rough-looking  implements,  one  of 
which   we   show    in    Fig.   40,    made    by 
grinding  the  beak  to  a  cutting  edge  and 
removing  the  body  whorl  from  the  axis, 
must    not    be    confounded    with    certain 
beautiful  shell  chisels  found  in  Florida  but  not,  so 
far  as  we  know,  on  the  Georgia  coast,  which  are 
made  from  the  lip  of  the  great  marine  univalve, 
Strombus  gigas. 

Agricultural  implements. — Two  specimens 
of  the  right  handed,  heavy  form  of  the  conch 
(Fulgur  carica],  with  perforation  in  the  body 
whorl  opposite  the  aperture  and  with  the  beak 
worn  or  chipped  down,  came  from  the  mound. 

Pins. — Twelve  pins,  the  largest  about  4.5 
inches,  lay  with  skeletal  remains  practically  always 
near  the  head. 

Gorgets. — In  midden  refuse  composing  a  shell 
layer  was  a  circular  gorget  of  shell  of  about  2 
inches  diameter,  having  carved  in  the  center  a 
rough  diamond-shaped  figure  (Fig.  41). 

With  Burial  No.  92,  a  child  of  about  7  years, 
was  a  gorget  near  the  head.  This  gorget,  nearly 
circular,  with  a  diameter  of  about  1.7  inches,  bore 
the  well-known  design  of  the  rattlesnake. 

Beads. — Beads  of  shell  were  fairly  numerous 

though  in  no  wise  comparable  iu  size,  number  or  state  of  preservation  to  those  in 
the  Creighton  Island  mound,  with  the  exception  of  a  fine  tubular  bead,  4  inches  in 
length,  having  a  diameter  of  .6  of  one  inch.  To  drill  a  bead  of  this  sort  longitu- 


Fig.  40.— Chisel  of  shell.     Mounrt  at 
Bourbon.     (Full  size.) 


04     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 


dinally  must  have  required  considerable  time.  We  are  told  by  Adair,1  "  Formerly 
four  doe-skins  was  the  price  of  a  large  conch-shell  bead,  about  the  length  and  thick 
ness  of  a  man's  lore-finger;  which  they  fixed  to  the  crown  of  their  head  as  an 
high  ornament — so  greatly  they  valued  them." 

With   one   burial   were  a  number  of  discoidal  beads,  each  about  one  inch  in 

diameter,  perforated  in  the  center  through  the  minor 
axis.  These  beads  must  not  be  confounded  with 
runtees,  which  have  their  perforation  edgewise. 

Mussel  shells. — Great  numbers  of  fresh-water 
mussel  shells,  all  Georgia  species,  some  perforated 
for  suspension,  others  not,  were  present  with  human 
remains.  With  one  burial  were  many  shells  ( Unio 
Shepardianus),  some  decayed  and  broken,  though 
33,  all  perforated,  were  recovered  in  fairly  good 
condition. 


Fig.  41. — Gorget  of  shell.     Mound  at 
Bourbon.     (Full  size.) 


PEARLS. 

One  pearl,  perforated  as  usual,  was  met  with. 

STONE. 


"  Celts''-—  Eleven  polished  "celts,"  most  of  them  of  volcanic  rock,  from  3  to 
0.5  inches  in  length,  were  present  in  the  mound.  It  has  not  been  thought  neces 
sary  to  mutilate  them  for  exact  determination  as  to  material.  Several,  probably 
of  green-stone,  were  badly  decayed  through  contact  with  water. 

Pebble-hammers,  hammer-stones,  etc. — The  mound  was  rich  in  these  objects. 
One  hammer-stone  was  apparently  a  portion  of  a  celt.  One  pebble-hammer,  with  a 
length  of  0.25  inches,  had  also  seen  use  as  a  snioothing-stone.  Certain  ones, 
smoothed  on  four  sides,  presented  an  interesting  appearance. 

Arroiv  and  Lance  points. — Five  arrow  and  lance  points  of  chert,  of  chalcedony 
and  of  quartz,  all  of  ordinary  type,  were  found  during  the 
investigation. 

Discoidal  stones. — Four  small  discoidal  stones  were  met 
with.  One  of  micaceous  sandstone  was  in  a  friable  condition. 

Soapstone  objects. — With  caved  sand,  near  human 
remains,  was  a  portion  of  a  vessel  of  soapstone — a  large 
vessel,  as  shown  by  the  slight  concavity  of  the  inner  surface. 
It  is  about  4  inches  square  and  has  on  the  margins  a  rude 
and  irregular  decoration. 

With  Burial  No.  50,  a  male,  was  a  bit  of  a  soapstone  vessel,  rudely  decorated 
with  incised  lines  on  either  side  and  on  two  of  its  three  margins.  With  it  was  a 
circular  ornament  of  soapstone  having  the  margin  divided  by  five  incisions.  Height, 
.5  of  an  inch  ;  diameter,  1.2  inches  (Fig.  42). 

i  "History  of  the  American  Indians,"  page  170.     Cited  by  C.  C.  Jones. 


Fig.  42.— Ornament  of  soap- 
stone.  Mound  at  Bour 
bon.  (Full  size.) 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE    GEORGIA   COAST.     G5 


With  Burial  No.  137,  in  vessel  F,  was  an  imperforate,  irregularly  circular  piece 

of  soapstom-  2.3  inches  by  2  inches  by  .5  of  one  inch  thick.  On  one  side  was  a 
rough  incised  design  representing  the  serpent  (Fig.  43) ;  on  the  other  a  cross-hatch 
decoration  (Fig.  44). 

With  Burial  No.  45,  was  a  curious  little  piece  of  soapstone  1.8  inches  in  height 
roughly  wrought   into  the  semblance  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  human  figure. 


Fig.  43. 


Fig.  44. 


Engraved  talilet  of  soapstone.    Mound  at  Bourbon.    (Full  size.) 

The  arms  are  plainly  apparent,  as  is  the  mouth.     The  upper  portion  oi  the  head 
seems  to  be  wanting  through  breakage  or  through  omission  (Fig.  45). 
Several  unworked  bits  of  soapstone  pots  were  present  with  burials. 
Miscellaneous.-^ A  number  of  flakes  of  chert,  probably  used  as  cutting  imple 
ments,  lay  with  burials  or  loose  in  the  sand.     With  a  skele 
ton  was  a  small  nodule  of  black  jasper. 

HONE. 

Piercing  implements. — Piercing  implements,  some 
probably  hair  pins,  were  fairly  numerous.  Many  were 
decayed  and  broken.  Some  piercing  implements  retain  the 
articular  portion  of  the  bone  at  the  blunt  end. 

A  curious  feature,  not  before  noticed  by  us.  was  the 
presence  in  this  mound  of  sections  of  bone  pins  with  burials, 
not  broken  but  apparently  intentionally  divided  by  cutting. 
With  one  burial  were  no  less  than  seven  of  these  fragments. 
A  less  number  were  found  at  several  other  points  in  the  mound. 
Miscellaneous. — With  human  remains  were  the  jaws  of  a  small  carnivore  and 
part  of  a  lower  jaw  of  a  much  larger  one  with  the  lower  portion,  including  the 
roots  of  the  teeth,  ground  away,  leaving  a  flat  surface.  We  shall  again  refer  to  this 
curious  aboriginal  custom  in  connection  with  jaws  similarly  treated  from  mounds  on 
St.  Catherine's  and  Ossabaw  Islands. 


Fig.  4">. — Effigy  of  soapstotic. 
Mound  at  Bourbon. 
(Full  size.) 


GO     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

The  carapace  of  a  tortoise,  somewhat  fragmentary,  with  two  perforations,  was 
found  with  a  burial.  The  lower  part  of  the  shell  was  probably  absent  through 
decay.  In  the  mound  at  Bourbon  were  several  tortoise  shells  in  the  last  stage  of 
decay,  usually  surrounding  nests  of  small  pebbles ;  once  or  twice,  Hakes  of  chert ; 
once,  small  square  pieces  of  shell,  probably  originally  destined  for  beads,  and  a 
number  of  the  teeth  of  the  drum-fish.  We  have,  in  other  mounds,  met  with 
deposits  of  drum-fish  teeth  which  doubtless  had  remained  after  the  enclosing 
tortoise  shells  had  decayed. 

Plumbago,  perhaps  used  as  black  paint,  was  present  with  one  burial. 

Many  burials  throughout  the  mound  were  associated  with  the  red  oxide  of 
iron  in  powder. 

A  small  bead  of  blue  "lass  was  found  by  a  di»'trer  entraired  on  the  surface  layer. 

O  «/  OC  •/ 

This  bead,  in  view  of  the  absence  of  glass  beads  with  burials  in  the  body  of  the 
mound,  we  took  to  be  a  relic  of  later  Indians  who,  we  know,  inhabited  Sapelo 
Island  until  a  comparatively  recent  period. 

ASSOCIATION    OF    OBJECTS. 

With  Burial  No.  31  were:  two  pebbles ;  a  Hat  mass  of  undetermined  stone  ;  two 
fragments  belonging  to  a  pot  or  pots  of  soapstone ;  a  pebble  worn  down  as  a  smoothing 
implement;  a  shell  chisel;  three  badly-decayed  bone  piercing  implements;  aflat 
fragmentary  smoothing-stone  and  one  large  pebble-hammer. 

With  Burial  No.  33,  a  mass  of  calcined  and  unburnt  bones,  were  two  stone 
hatchets;  two  earthenware  tobacco  pipes  and  the  earthenware  dish  already  described. 

There  lay  with  Burial  No.  73,  a  male,  shell  beads  at  the  wrist ;  five  tobacco 
pipes,  some  with  portions  missing ;  two  pebble-hammers ;  one  pebble  ;  two  fresh 
water  mussel  shells ;  one  shell  chisel ;  one  discoidal  stone  with  a  concavity  on  one 
side ;  one  small  quartz  arrowhead ;  one  portion  of  a  columella  of  some  large  marine 
univalve  ;  one  decayed  turtle  shell  containing  drum-fish  teeth,  etc. ;  one  shell  drink 
ing  cup ;  one  bone  pin  ;  one  discoidal  stone. 

SAPELO  ISLAND,  MC!NTOSII  COUNTY.     Low  MOUND  AT  BOURBOX. 

About  150  yards  in  a  southerly  direction  from  the  large  mound  at  Bourbon, 
was  one  having  a  diameter  of  base  of  38  feet,  a  height  of  3  feet  4  inches.  Upon  it 
lay  the  trunk  of  a  large  oak  tree,  which,  with  the  root,  interfered  with  complete  in 
vestigation.  Somewhat  over  one-half  the  mound  was  dug  away,  with  the  courteous 
permission  of  Amos  Sawyer,  Esq. 

The  mound  at  marginal  portions  was  thickly  covered  with  oyster  shells,  the 
layer  gradually  decreasing  in  thickness  toward  the  center.  The  body  of  the  mound 
was  composed  of  black  loamy  sand.  The  presence  of  water  near  the  base  impeded 
investigation. 

Human  remains  were  met  with  at  twelve  points.  Three  skeletons  lay  at  full 
length,  two  on  the  back  and  one  face  down  in  sub-basal  graves  under  water.  Other 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     G7 

remains,  all  inhumations  of  single  bodies,  were  in  various  positions,  flexed,  semi- 
sitting,  reclining.  There  was  no  uniformity  of  direction  nor  any  preponderance  of 
a  southern  direction  as  a  choice  for  the  head.  With  one  skeleton  was  hematite; 
with  another,  a  few  shell  beads. 

SAPELO  ISLAND,  Mrlxiosn  COUNTY.     MOUND  IN   DUMOUSSAY'S  FIKI.D. 

Dumoussay's  Field,  taking  its  name  from  a  French  owner,  deceased  on  the 
island  in  1794,  as  his  headstone  sets  forth,  is  a  considerable  tract  formerly  under 
cultivation  but  now  overgrown  with  underbrush  and  small  trees.  It  is  studded 
with  shell-heaps.  It  is  distant  somewhat  over  one  mile  in  a  straight  line  from 
Bourbon — N.  N.  W. — and  may  also  be  reached  by  water  through  a  brunch  of  the 
creek  on  which  Bourbon  is  situated. 

About  one-quarter  of  one  mile  in  a  northwesterly  direction  from  the  landing, 
which  is  only  a  harder  portion  of  the  marsh,  was  an  irregular  rise  in  the  ground 
much  reduced  in  height  and  spread  out  by  cultivation.  Its  maximum  height  was 
18  inches;  its  exact  diameter  was  difficult  to  determine.  Probably  a  circumference 
with  a  diameter  of  50  feet  would  have  included  all  portions  above  the  general  level 
of  the  Held.  It  was  dug  through  by  us  by  permission  of  Amos  Sawyer,  Esq.,  to 
whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  privilege  of  opening  the  neighboring  mounds  at 
Bourbon, 

Through  what  we  took  to  be  the  center  of  the  elevated  part  of  the  mound,  a 
line  90  feet  in  length  was  drawn  running  east  and  west.  Taking  this  line  as  a 
chord,  a  semi-circle  with  radii  of  45  feet,  including  the  southern  portion  of  the 
mound,  was  marked  out  and  completely  dug  through.  Evidences  of  disturbance  in 
the  soil  were  met  with  about  29  feet  from  the  central  point,  the  first  interment, 
however,  being  23  feet  S.  E.  by  S. 

Next,  the  northern  half  of  the  mound  was  dug  through  starting  with  a  diameter 
of  53  feet  and  gradually  converging  to  a  line  32  feet  N.  of  the  central  point  where 
all  disturbance  in  the  sand  seemed  to  cease,  and  a  considerable  number  of  feet 
beyond  an  interment.  On  the  limits  of  the  mound  were  the  pits  so  often  found 
with  coast  mounds,  in  this  case  about  3.5  feet  deep  and  covering  a  considerable  area. 
As  usual,  they  were  filled  with  sand  black  with  organic  matter  much  darker  than 
the  sand  of  the  mound,  but  contained  no  burials. 

The  mound,  which  had  evidently  lost  much  of  its  original  altitude  through 
cultivation,  had  upon  its  surface  but  a  few  scattered  oyster  shells  and  contained 
practically  none.  There  was  no  central  grave,  unless  a  broad  area  of  disturbed 
sand  near  the  middle,  extending  into  the  bright  yellow  sand  beneath  the  base  and 
containing  a  number  of  burials  may  be  so  regarded.  Pits  similar  to  this,  though 
smaller,  were  present  elsewhere  in  the  mound. 

Skeletal  remains  were  met  with  at  fifty-one  points  in  the  mound,  excluding 
scattered  fragments  from  near  the  surface.  These  burials  were  distributed  as  follows 
as  to  form  :  skeletons,  42  ;  late  disturbance.  1  ;  bunched  burials,  2  ;  isolated  cranium, 
1;  uncremated  remains  in  vessels,  3;  cinerary  urn  with  calcined  remains,  1. 


68     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

Of  the  skeletons  :  20,  were  of  males  ;  12,  of  females  ;  G,  of  uncertain  sex  ;  3,  of 
adolescents;  1,  of  a  child. 

Of  these  42  skeletons  all  but  one  were  Hexed  1  on  the  right  side  and  all  but  the 
same 'one  headed  in  a  southerly  direction,  17  being  due  south.  The  one  exception 
lay  flexed  on  the  left  side  with  the  head  pointing  E.  N.  E. 

We  append  all  burials  of  interest  and  all  associated  with  any  artifacts. 

Burial  No.  2,  23  feet  S.  E.  by  S.  from  the  center,  at  the  bottom  of  a  pit,  3  feet 
tj  inches  from  the  surface,  extending  1  foot  3  inches  into  undisturbed  sand,  was  a 
skeleton  of  uncertain  sex  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  5,  21  feet  S.  E.  by  S.,  2  feet  4  inches  down,  was  a  skeleton  of  a 
male,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  With  it  was  a  tobacco  pipe  with  portions 
of  the  rim  missing,  representing  a  human  face  and  differing  somewhat  from  the  one 
from  Bourbon,  where  the  teeth  are  shown  continuously,  while  in  this  specimen, 
which  recalls  the  one  from  Darien,  they  are  represented  on  either  side  only  (Fig.  46). 


Fig.  40. — Tobacco  jiipe  of  earthenware.     Mound  at  Diimoussay's  Field.     (Full  size.) 


Burial  No.  8,  16  feet  S.  E.  by.  E.,  1  foot  down,  a  skeleton  of  an  adolescent, 
flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  by  E.  Above  the  skeleton  was  a  layer  of  charcoal 
about  6  inches  thick,  with  burnt  shells  and  sand.  In  this  layer  were  fragments  of 
calcined  human  bones  having  no  connection  with  the  skeleton  below,  and  a  calcined 
shell  pin. 

Burial  No.  13,  12  feet  E.,  2  feet  10  inches  down — a  bunched  burial,  the  skull 
face  up,  the  lower  jaw  under  it  and  turned  from  it,  one  humerus  above  and  one 
beneath,  the  cranium.  Ribs  heaped  over  upper  humerus.  No  other  bones  except 
two  vertebra). 

Burial  No.  14,  Vessel  A,  11  feet  S.  E.  by  S.,  a  vessel  in  fragments,  probably 
broken  by  the  plow.  With  it  were  scattered  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones 
and  a  discoidal  stone. 

Burial  No.  16,  7  feet  E.  by  S.,  skeleton  of  female,  flexed  on  the  right,  head  S., 
on  the  bottom  of  a  pit,  4  feet  7  inches  from  the  surface.  The  pit  extended  1  foot 
1)  inches  into  undisturbed  sand.  Diameter  of  pit  as  it  entered  undisturbed  sand,  4 
feet  3  inches.  In  the  upper  part  of  the  pit  was  powdered  hematite. 

1  One  of  these  was  a  partial  flexion. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     U'.i 

Burial  No.  20,  male,  Hexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  hv  W.  Associated,  were  : 
two  undeeorated  tobacco  pipes,  with  parts  missing;  the  lower  half  of  a  chert  arrow 
head;  a  hit  of  soapstone  pot  ;  two  hone  pins  badly  decayed. 

Burial  No.  30,  3  feet  W.  S.  W.,  3  feet  down,  a  skeleton  of  an  aged  female. 
Hexed  on  the  right  side,  heading  S.  by  E.  At  the  neck  were  small  heads  and  near 
by  were:  six  imperforate  marine  shells  {Dosinia  discus} ' ;  three  pebbles  used  as 
smoothing  stones;  one  attractive  pebble-hammer  of  quartz  :  and  two  rectangular 
dishes,  the  smaller  inverted  within  the  larger,  each  with  rounded  corners  and  slightly 
converging  sides,  having,  in  addition,  an  inward  slope  toward  the  middle  of  the 
longer  sides.  On  the  base  of  the  smaller  vessel  and  extending  somewhat  over  on 
one  side,  is  a  curious  incised  decoration  shown  diagrammatically  in  Fig.  47. 

Professor  Holmes  considers  it  to  be  "most  certainly  representative  of  some  life 
form  or  forms." 


Fig.  47. — Incised  decoration  on  dish.     Mound  at  Diiinoussay's  Field.     (Full  size.) 

Professor  Putnam  thus  writes  of  it: — "As  to  the  figure  carved  on  the  oblong 
dish  from  the  Sapelo  Island  mound,  both  Mr.  Willoughby  and  I  find  ourselves  unable 
to  reduce  it  to  its  elements.  It  is  probably  a  conventionalized  figure,  which  in  time 
will  be  traced  back  to  its  realistic  form." 

The  approximate  measurements  of  the  larger  vessel,  in  which  we  noticed  hema 
tite,  are  as  follows:  length,  ',(  inches;  breadth,  4.5  inches;  height.  l.">  inches.  The 
smaller  dish  was  approximately  7  inches  long,  3.25  inches  wide,  and  l.~>  inches  high. 

Burial  No.  32,  Vessel  1},  4  feet  W.  Just  below  the  surface,  was  an  undeeorated 
imperforate  bowl  in  fragments  containing  bits  of  uncremated  bones  of  a  young  infant. 
Nearby  were  :  an  undeeorated  imperforate  vessel  with  globular  body,  constricted  neck 
and  miring  rim,  of  about  3  pints  capacity  ;  one  shell  drinking  cup  and  one  conch  shell. 

Burial  No.  34,  13  feet  E.  by  N.,  a  skeleton  of  a  male,  tlexed  on  the  right  side, 
head  S.,  having  in  association  a  mass  of  powdered  hematite. 

'  Determined  by  Professor  I'ilsbry. 
9  JOURX.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


To     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

Burial  No.  35,  G  feet  N.  W.,  3.5  feet  down,  skeleton  of  a  child,  flexed  on  the 
right  side,  head  S.  W.  by  S.  At  the  neck  were  eight  massive  beads  of  shell,  the 
largest  2  inches  in  length,  and  a  number  of  small  beads.  On  the  chest  was  a  rattle 
made  from  the  shell  of  a  tortoise,  very  badly  decayed,  having  within  many  little 
pebbles;  a  gorget  of  shell  with  part  of  the  rim  missing,  having  a  diameter  of  2.6 
inches,  bearing  the  design  of  a  rattlesnake. 

Burial  No.  36,  Vessel  C,  7  feet  N.  W.  by  W.  A  few  inches  below  the  surface 
was  a  badly  crushed,  undecorated,  imperforate  vessel  held  in  place  by  sand,  17.75 
inches  long  with  a  maximum  width  of  12  inches.  The  orifice  is  14  inches  in  length 
and  9.5  inches  wide.  The  height  varies  from  6  inches  at  the  middle  of  the  side  to 
7  inches  at  the  end.  In  shape  the  vessel  resembles  the  larger  one  described  with 
Burial  No.  30.  At  the  bottom  of  the  vessel  were  small  shell  beads  in  numbers, 
while  powdered  hematite  was  present  in  it  in  places.  The  top  was  covered  or 
partly  covered  by  fragments  of  earthenware,  not  representing  .any  entire  vessel. 
This  oblong  vessel,  which,  pieced  together,  is  shown  in  Plate  VIII,  enclosed  a, 
lower  jaw ;  arm  bones  on  either  side  and  in  the  middle,  ribs ;  part  of  the  sternum 
and  a  few  vertebra).  These  bones  were  not  in  anatomical  order. 

In  the  sand  immediately  below  the  vessel  were  the  skull  without  the  mandi 
ble  ;  the  pelvis  with  the  left  lower  extremity  in  anatomical  order  and  flexed.  The 
bones  of  the  right  leg  were  parallel  to,  and  alongside  of,  those  of  the  left  leg,  while 
the  right  thigh  was  about  one  foot  away.  Scattered  phalanges  and  vertebra*  lay 
about  and  the  portion  of  the  sternum  not  contained  in  the  vessel  was  present.  With 
these1  bones  were  massive  shell  beads  and  a  shell  drinking  cup.  This  burial  we 
consider  the  most  interesting  of  any  it  has  been  our  fortune  to  encounter. 

Burial  No.  41,  10  feet  N.  W.  by  N.,  1  foot  2  inches  below  the  present  surface, 
was  a  bunched  burial,  having  :  the  bones  of  the  lower  extremities  with  one  tibia 
reversed  from  its  femur,  the  long  bones  parallel ;  the  pelvis  on  top  ;  the  ribs  mingled  ; 
one  humerus;  no  forearm  bones;  no  cranium  and  but  one  vertebra. 

Burial  No.  46,  17  feet  N.  N.  E.,  2.5  feet  down,  a  skeleton  of  uncertain  sex, 
flexed  on  the  right,  heading  S.  With  it  was  a  shell  drinking  cup  and  one  pebble. 

Burial  No.  48,  16  feet  N.  N.  E.,  2  feet  3  inches  down,  was  the  skeleton  of  a 
male,  on  right  side,  head  S.  by  E.  In  the  grave  with  the  skeleton,  2  feet  west  of 
it.  were  two  vessels,  each  of  about  2  quarts  capacity,  of  the  type  described  as  found 
near  Burial  No.  32,  each  on  its  base  but  tilting  toward  the  other,  so  that  a  part  of 
the  rim  of  one  lay  in  the  aperture  of  the  other.  The  interior  of  one  was  coated 
with  red  pigment.  Near  the  knee  of  the  skeleton  were  fragments  of  a  cord-marked 
bowl  of  about  three  quarts  capacity,  not  together,  but  spread  out  at  some  distance 
one  from  the  other.  This  bowl,  when  pieced  together,  showed  a  base-perforation. 
Below  the  upper  margin,  on  either  side  of  a  crack,  were  two  perforations  placed 
to  permit  the  passing  through  of  a  cord  or  sinew  to  hold  together  the  parts  on  either 
side.  Below  the  skeleton  and  the  two  vessels  first  described  was  a  continuous  layer 
of  decayed  wood  or  bark. 

Burial  No.  49,  22  feet  N.,  just  beneath  the  surface  was  the  skeleton  of  a  male, 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA    COAST.     71 

partly  Hexed  on  the  right  side,  heading  S.  With  it  were  hematite  and  a  rude 
pendant  wrought  from  a  section  of  the  colinnella  of  a  marine  univalve,  grooved  at 
one  end  for  suspension. 

Burial  No.  00,  Vessels  I)  and  E,  24  feet  N.,  just  beneath  the  surface, 
was  a  badly  broken  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type  with  a  perforated  base.  The  rim 
had  been  ploughed  away.  Within  were  fragments  of  bones  of  an  infant  so  young 
that  the  milk  teeth  had  not  erupted.  Above  this  vessel  was  an  inverted  bowl  in 
fragments,  undecorated  save  for  a  row  of  small  knobs  beneath  the  exterior  margin. 

Burial  No.  01,  20  feet  N.  by  W.,  nine  inches  down,  a  skeleton  of  a  male,  Hexed 
on  the  right  side,  head  S.  by  E.  Associated  was  a  nest  of  small  pebbles,  doubtless 
formerly  included  within  a  tortoise  shell. 

With  a  number  of  burials  not  especially  noted  was  decayed  wcxwl  or  bark.  In 
the  mound,  loose  in  the  sand,  was  a  somewhat  fragmentary  undecorated  tobacco 
pipe.  Sherds,  undecorated,  cord-marked  and  with  check  and  complicated  stamp, 
were  present.  A  portion  of  an  undecorated  vessel  which,  while  whole,  had  also 
seen  service  as  a  hone,  showed  five  grooves,  a  part  of  one  of  which  had  been  on  the 
missing  portion. 

ABORIGINAL  ENCLOSURE  AT  SAI-ELO  HIGH  POINT,  SAPELO  ISLAND,  MC!NTOSH  COUNTY. 

On  Sapelo  High  Point,  near  the  northwest  end  of  Sapelo  Island,  overlooking 
Sapelo  Sound  and,  at  periods  of  storm,  washed  by  the  waters  of  Big  Mud  river  (the 
southernmost  fork  of  the  sound)  which  Lad  laid  bare  a  section  of  the  walls,  is  an 
almost  circular  aboriginal  fortification  or  ceremonial  enclosure.  This  enclosure  (see 
plan.  Fig.  48),  which  we  examined  by  permission  of  Amos  Sawyer,  Esq.,  upon  whose 
property  it  is,  has  a  diameter,  including  the  walls,  of  somewhat  over  300  feet. 
The  walls  have  an  average  height  of  from  0  to  7  feet,  and  a  thickness  of  about  00 
feet  at  the  base.  They  are  flattened  on  top  where  at  present  they  have  an  average 
width  of  from  10  to  10  feet.  They  are  covered  with  forest  trees,  and  are  composed 
exclusively  of  shells,  mainly  those  of  the  oyster,  with  the  usual  midden  refuse 
intermingled,  such  as  fragments  of  bone,  bits  of  earthenware,  and  the  like. 

Those  most  familiar  with  the  history  of  Southern  Georgia  have  failed  to  find 
anv  allusion  to  this  work  in  chronicles  or  histories,  nor  does  any  local  tradition 
attach  to  it. 

That  the  work  is  aboriginal  is,  in  our  opinion,  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt 
since  a  fortification  made  by  Europeans  would  be  of  sand  found  on  the  spot  and  not 
from  shells  gathered  here  and  there  from  small  deposits  at  a  distance.  On  one  side 
of  the  mound  only  are  shells  within  sight,  and  these  consist  of  circular  deposits  not 
over  18  inches  in  height,  from  which  no  shells  have  been  taken.  There  is  no 
question  then  but  this  is  one  of  those  symmetrical  works  of  the  aborigines  made  In- 
piling  shell  through  a  period  of  time  to  form  some  definite  shape  such  as  a  great 
ridge  on  Barbour's  Island  not  far  from  Sapelo,  or  at  Enterprise,  Florida,  or  the  great 
oblong  mound  of  shell  lying  in  the  swamp  near  Volusia,  Florida,  with  no  shell 
surrounding  it,  a  full  description  of  which  we  have  given  in  the  American  Naturalist.1 

1  "Certain  Shell  Heaps  of  the  St.  Johns  River,  Florida,"  January,  1893. 


72     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 


Fig.  43.— Plau  of  "Indian  fort,"  Sapelo  Island. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  (X)AST.     7:J, 

Excavations  made  within  the  enclosure  gave  varying  results.  At  one  point 
yellow,  undisturbed  sand  was  reached  about  1  foot  beneath  the  surface.  Another 
excavation  went  through  loam  and  midden  refuse  to  a  depth  of  2.5  feet.  Earthen 
ware  in  fragments,  shattered  bones  of  the  deer  and  a  fragment  of  a  temporal  bone 
from  a  human  skull  were  met  with. 

In  a  description  of  this  enclosure,  appearing  in  a  report  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institution,1  reference  is  made  to  two  circular  enclosures  in  the  vicinity.  One  is  at 
present  indistinct  and  has  by  no  means  the  height  assigned  to  it.  The  other  escaped 
our  attention. 

Near  the  center  of  Sapelo  Island  is  a  mound  of  considerable  size,  the  property 
of  a  Mr.  Keenan.  or  Kennon,  with  whom  we  were  unable  to  come  to  terms. 

The  Island  of  Blackbeard,  called  after  the  famous  pirate  of  that  name,  lies  to 
the  northeast  of  Sapelo.  We  are  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  Edward  Giddings 
for  permission  to  make  any  investigation  we  saw  fit  upon  the  island.  Unfortunately, 
we  were  unable  to  locate  any  aboriginal  works  upon  it  though  "  Money  Old  Field," 
a  tract  formerly  under  cultivation,  seemed  to  offer  a  likely  situation.  This  field  has 
been  fairly  riddled  by  seekers  after  mythical  treasure,  and  it  is  owing  to  this  foolish 
idea  of  buried  gold  that  scientific  investigators  meet  with  hindrance  from  the  ignorant. 

MOUNDS  AT  BAHAMA,  McLvmsn  COUNTY. 

Bahama,2  situate  at  the  union  of  Harbour's  Island  river  and  South  Newport  river, 
has  a  wide  expanse  of  cultivated  fields,  many  of  which,  by  the  presence  of  numerous 
low  shell  heaps,  give  evidence  of  aboriginal  occupation.  A  careful  search  upon  two 
occasions  Avas  accorded  to  this  promising  site  with  but  meagre  result.  Two  small 
mounds,. each  but  little  above  the  general  level,  were  met  with.  These  mounds 
were  not  completely  demolished,  though  the  central  parts  were  dug  out.  with  con 
siderable  additional  trenching.  In  each  case  no  interments  were  discovered  save 
in  a  central  pit. 

In  one  mound  the  pit,  filled  to  the  surface  with  oyster  shells,  contained  a  con 
fused  mass  of  human  remains,  including  three  crania  unaffected  by  fire  With 
these  bones  were  fragments  of  calcined  human  remains  and  one  piercing  imple 
ment  of  bone. 

In  the  second  mound,  upon  which  only  scattered  oyster  shells  were  visible, 
was  a  pit  about  r>.5  feet  deep,  roughly  circular  and  about  7  feet  across  at  the  top. 
The  sides  of  the  pit,  which  converged,  were  coated  with  a  layer  of  oyster  shells, 
about  6  inches  thick.  On  the  base  was  a  deposit  of  remains  similar  in  character  to 
those  in  the  other  mound,  including  six  crania.  A  certain  amount  of  hematite  was 
in  association. 

1  1872,  page  422  et  seq.  "Mounds  in  Georgia,"  William  McKinley. 

'  The  post-office  at  this  point  has,  we  believe,  lately  been  given  the  name  Lacey. 


74     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

MOUNDS  AT  LAUREL  VIEW,  LIBERTY  COUNTY. 

Laurel  View  is  a  high  bluff  on  the  south  side  of  the  Medway  river.  About 
1  mile  south  of  the  bluff  was  a  very  symmetrical  mound  of  white  sand,  7  feet  high 
and  38  feet  across  the  base.  It  was  on  the  property  of  Mr.  McClosky  of  Augusta, 
Georgia.  Prior  to  our  visit  a  large  trench  had  been  dug  completely  through  the 
mound  and  a  portion  of  one  side  had  been  dug  away.  The  remainder  of  the  mound 
was  totally  demolished  by  us.  A  number  of  pockets  of  calcined  human  bones — 


Fig.  49. — Diagram  of  mound  near  South-end  Settlement. 

about  twenty — some  associated  with  pink  sand,  were  met  with,  also  several  solitary 
skulls  very  badly  decayed. 

A  chert  arrowhead  lay  loose  in  the  sand  and  another  was  found  unassociated 
with  a  cranium.  A  piercing  implement  of  bone,  of  the  ordinary  type,  lay  with 
calcined  remains. 

About  100  yards  northwest  of  the  mound  just  described  was  a  small  one,  intact 
as  to  previous  investigation  but  much  reduced  in  height  by  the  plow.  Its  altitude 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     75 

was  22  inches;  its  diameter  of  base,  30  feet.  It  was  totally  demolished,  being  dug 
through  at  a  depth  considerably  lower  than  the  level  of  the  surrounding  territory. 

Human  remains  were  met  with  at  eight  points,  some  at  a  depth  of  3  feet.  At 
one  point  was  a  solitary  skull  unaffected  by  lire.  Seven  pockets  of  calcined  bones 
comprised  the  remainder  of  the  human  remains  in  the  mound,  with  the  exception 
of  one  femur  showing  no  trace  of  fire,  which  lay  immediately  beneath  one  of  the 
masses  of  calcined  bones. 

Several  local  streaks  of  bright  sand  colored  with  hematite  were  present  in  the 
mound  and  scarlet  sand  was  occasionally  with  human  remains. 

Five  or  six  sheets  of  mica,  with  one  of  the  pockets  of  burnt  bones,  were  the 
only  artifacts  present  in  the  mound. 

ST.  CATHERINE'S  ISLAND,  LIBERTY  COUNTY.     MOUND  NEAR  SOUTH-END  SETTLEMENT. 

About  three-quarters  of  one  mile  in  a  northerly  direction  from  the  South-end 
Settlement,  in  a  field  long  under  cultivation  in  former  times  but  fallow  at  the  time 
of  our  visit,  was  a  rather  symmetrical  rounded  mound  3  feet  in  height  and  08  feet 
across  the  base,  the  outline  of  which  was  almost  exactly  circular,  though,  as  the 
reader  may  see  by  consulting  the  diagram  (Fig.  49),  burials  and  artifacts  were  by  no 
means  included  beneath  the  slope  of  the  mound  but  extended  to  the  east  and  south 
east  in  perfectly  level  ground. 

There  had  been  no  previous  investigation. 

The  mound  was  dug  through,  including  considerable  outlying  territory. 
Throughout  the  mound  proper  there  ran,  commencing  at  the  beginning  of  what  we 
took  to  be  the  original  slope  (for  the  external  lower  portions  of  the  rise  seemed  to 
have  been  ploughed  down  from  above),  a  dark  band  not  on  one  level,  as  in  many 
mounds  we  have  investigated,  but  extremely  irregular,  often  continuing  a  consider 
able  distance  into  the  pits  which  were  numerous  in  certain  portions  of  the  mound. 
In  default  of  a  better  theory,  we  believe  that  these  pits  were  dug  and  but  partly 
filled  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  mound  ;  that  the  field  continued  to  be  a 
dwelling  site,  and  that  the  deposit  of  offal,  debris,  charcoal  and  the  like,  created  a 
black  surface  layer  in  the  depressions  as  well  as  on  the  level  ground. 

The  mound  was  composed  of  dark  loamy  sand  resting  upon  undisturbed  yellow 
sand.  Local  layers  of  oyster  shells  were  present,  and  the  central  portion  of  the 
mound  was  made  up  of  a  deposit  of  oyster  shells  about  2  feet  thick — not  midden 
refuse  but  loose  as  though  brought  there  at  one  time  and  deposited.  This  deposit 
extended  in  some  directions  about  10  feet  from  the  center,  in  others  20  feet,  while 
to  the  N.  W.  it  continued,  tapering  off' in  thickness,  to  the  very  verge  of  the  mound. 
From  the  highest  point  of  the  mound  to  the  level  of  the  black  base-line,  was  a  per 
pendicular  distance  of  just  3  feet. 

The  following  is  a  detailed  description  of  burials  to  be  used  in  connection  with 
the  diagram. 

Burial  No.  1,  51  feet,  E.  S.  E.,  from  the  center  of  the  mound  proper,  beneath 
perfectly  level  ground,  lying  at  the  bottom  of  a  pit,  2.5  feet  from  the  surface,  were 
fragments  of  a  human  skull  badlv  decayed. 


7(1     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE    GEORGIA  COAST. 

Burial  No.  2,  42  feet,  S.  E.  by  E.,  on  undisturbed  sand,  at  the  bottom  of  a  pit 
of  undetermined  limits,  32  inches  from  the  surface,  was  the  skeleton  of  an  adult, 
much  decayed,  apparently  flexed  on  the  right  side,  heading  S.  E.  With  the  bones 
were  :  a  pebble-hammer ;  a  lot  of  red  paint  made  from  red  oxide  of  iron,  as  was 
shown  by  chemical  determination  ;  a  flake  of  chert ;  a  small  bit  of  a  soapstone  pot 
and  twenty-three  quartz  pebbles  each  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  lying  closely  together 
—the  remains  of  a  rattle. 

Burial  No.  3,  Vessel  A.  To  the  S.  W.  of  Burial  No.  2,  in  contact  with  its 
base,  resting  on  undisturbed  sand,  36  inches  from  the  surface,  entirely  intact,  was  a 
vessel  of  the  ordinary  type  (see  introductory  remarks  as  to  this  type  at  the  com- 
7iiencement  of  this  Report).  Height,  15.5  inches;  maximum  diameter  of  body,  11.5 
inches  ;  diameter  of  mouth,  13.5  inches.  Within  this  vessel,  which  was  unprotected 
by  an  imposed  vessel  or  by  fragments,  were  a  number  of  human  bones  of  an  adult. 
probably  representing  an  entire  skeleton.  Long  bones  together  were  upright  against 
the  side,  while  the  cranium  lay  face  down  with  ribs  and  other  bones  'beneath,  as 
shown  sectionally  in  the  frontispiece,  in  which,  however,  all  the  long  bones  are  not 
distinguishable,  certain  ones  being  in  rear  of  others.  The  skull  and  long  bones  are 
represented  exactly  as  found,  never,  in  fact,  having  been  removed  from  the  vessel, 
but  treated  in  place  with  numerous  coats  of  shellac  to  impart  durability.  The 
fragmentary  smaller  bones  and  the  beads  were  removed  with  the  sand  and  subse 
quently  replaced,  but  not  exactly  in  their  former  position.  Most  of  the  beads  lay 
on  top  of  the  mass  of  bones  at  the  base  of  the  vessel. 

Burial  No.  4,  Vessel  B.  To  the  north  of,  and  in  contact  with,  Vessel  A,  was  an 
imperforate  one  of  similar  type  somewhat  crushed.  Within  it  were  the  bones  of  an 
adult,  not  in  anatomical  order  and  very  much  decayed.  The  vessel  was  sent  to  the 
Ontario  Archaeological  Museum. 

Burial  No.  5,  Vessels  Ca.,  b.,  44  feet  E.  S.  E.,  in  a  pit  of  uncertain  limits,  having 
its  base  3.5  feet  from  the  surface  and  extending  22  inches  into  undisturbed  sand,  was 
a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  imperforate  as  to  the  base,  having  the  rim  badly 
crushed.  It  contained  the  much  decayed  bones  of  an  adult,  probably  male,  not  in 
anatomical  order,  with  34  large  shell  beads.  Capping  this  vessel,  inverted,  was  an 
imperforate  bowl,  undecorated  save  for  an  encircling  row  of  knobs  some  distance 
apart,  about  1.5  inches  below  the  rim.  The  material,  gritty  ware,  was  fairly  good 
in  this  case  and  had  resisted  pressure  with  the  exception  of  a  part  of  the  rim  and  a 
portion  below  it,  which  were  recovered.  Diameter  of  body,  16  inches;  of  mouth, 
14.5  inches;  height,  0.5  inches.  Ca.  and  Cb.  were  sent  to  the  Peabody  Museum. 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  they  have  been  carefully  put  together. 

Burial  No.  6,  46  feet  E.  by  S.  was  a  pit  4.5  feet  long,  having  its  base  38  inches 
from  the  surface.  It  extended  IT  inches  into  undisturbed  sand  and  was  filled  with 
oyster  ,shells  and  black  loaui  apparently  from  a  local  superficial  layer.  On  the  base 
was  a  skeleton,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  7,  Vessel  D.,  48  feet  E.  S.  E.,  just  beneath  the  surface,  upright,  with  the 
rim  and  upper  portion  broken  by  the  plow,  was  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  having 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     77 

a  large  intentional  perforation  of  the  base.  The  vessel  was  partly  filled  with  oyster 
shells,  though  none  was  present  on  the  surface  at  that  part  of  the  mound.  On  the 
base  of  the  vessel  was  the  skeleton  of  a  child  three  or  four  years  of  age,  flexed  to 
such  an  extent  that  the  head  was  almost  in  contact  with  the  legs. 

X.  55  feet  S.  E.,  a  layer  of  charcoal  and  sand,  the  upper  margin  6  inches 
below  the  surface,  4  inches  thick  at  the  start  and  4  feet  2  inches  across.  It  extended 
inward  5  feet  3  inches,  tapering  off  somewhat  in  thickness. 

Burial  No.  8,  38  feet  E.,  in  the  bottom  of  a  small  pit,  20  inches  from  the 
surface  and  extending  into  undisturbed  sand,  was  the  skeleton  of  an  aged  female, 
flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  E. 

Vessel  E,  39  feet  S.  E.  by  E.,  2.5  feet  from  the  surface,  was  an  imperforate 
undecorated  boat-shaped  vessel,  entirely  intact.  At  either  end  was  a  small  perfor 
ation  for  suspension.  This  vessel  apparently  contained  no  remains  of  any  sort,  nor 
did  it  seem  to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  a  burial.  Maximum  diameter  of  mouth  and 
length,  each  7  inches ;  maximum  diameter  of  body,  9  inches ;  minimum  diameter 
of  mouth,  4.1  inches;  minimum  diameter  of  body,  5.3  inches;  height,  4  inches. 

Burial  No.  9,  38  feet  S.  E.,  on  undisturbed  sand,  on  the  side  of  a  large  pit  of 
undetermined  limits,  was  a,  skeleton  of  uncertain  sex,  much  decayed,  flexed  on  the 
right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  10,  42  feet  E.  by  S.  This  skeleton  of  a  female,  flexed  on  the  right 
side,  head  S.,  lay  on  undisturbed  sand,  1.5  feet  down.  Oyster  shells  from  the  surface 
lay  with  the  loam  around  it.  Beneath  the  chin  was  a  shell  pin  of  ordinary  type. 

Burial  No.  11,  27  feet  N.  E.  by  E.,  on  the  bottom  of  a  pit,  3  feet  9  inches  from 
the  surface,  2  feet  of  which  was  into  undisturbed  sand,  and  having  a  diameter  of 
o.5  feet  where  it  entered  the  undisturbed  sand,  was  a  badly  decayed  skeleton, 
probably  male,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  E. 

Burial  No.  12,  37  feet  E.  S.  E.,  2  feet  8  inches  down,  just  above  the  bottom  of 
the  pit,  were  traces  of  bones  in  powder.  Three  bits  of  chert  and  several  small 
flakes  of  mica  lay  with  them. 

XX.  15  feet  N.,  a  pocket  of  charcoal  in  the  sand,  15  inches  across  at  the  start 
and  3  inches  thick,  tapering  into  the  mound  9  inches. 

Burial  No.  13,  32  feet  E.  by  S.,  a  flexed  skeleton  of  a  female,  on  the  right  side, 
head  S.,  let  into  undisturbed  sand,  2  feet  from  the  surface. 

Burial  No.  14,  32  feet  E.  S.  E.,  1  foot  6  inches  from  the  surface,  were  a  few 
crumbling  fragments  of  bone,  having  with  them  two  small  polished  chisels  of  stone  ; 
one  graceful  arrow  point  of  chert  and  a  nest  of  small  pebbles  formerly  belonging  to 
a  rattle. 

Burial  No.  15,  27  feet  S.  E.  by  E.,  2.5  feet  from  the  surface,  on  the  bottom  of 
a  pit  let  8  inches  into  undisturbed  sand,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  male,  on  the  right 
side,  partly  Hexed,  the  knees  being  at  right  angles  to  the  body,  head  S.  With  the 
remains  were  :  a  nest  of  small  pebbles,  several  small  fragments  of  a  soapstone  vessel 
and  three  undecorated  earthenware  tobacco  pipes  of  ordinary  type,  one  against  the 
skull,  the  others  loose  in  the  sand,  13  inches  and  15  inches,  respectively,  above  the 

10  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


78     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

bones.  One  was  partly  filled  with  carbonized  tobacco.  These  two  pipes  may  have 
been  contributions  from  bystanders  during  the  filling  of  the  grave. 

Burial  No.  16,  25  feet  E.  by  S.,  a  grave  5.5  feet  long,  extending  2  feet  to 
undisturbed  sand.  On  the  bottom,  3  feet  9  inches  from  the  surface,  was  a  skeleton 
of  a  male,  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  With  it  were  :  a  small  undecorated  tobacco 
pipe  of  earthenware  ;  a  discoidal  stone  about  2  inches  in  diameter  and  1  inch  in 
thickness  and  a  small  ball  of  resinous  material. 

Burial  No.  17,  22  feet  E.  S.  E.,  28  inches  down,  lying  on  the  line  of  undisturbed 
sand,  with  no  especial  grave  discernible  but  in  generally  disturbed  material,  was  a 
pile  of  human  bones  in  disorder  with  long  bones  on  top  of,  and  along  side,  the  skull. 

Burial  No.  18,  8  feet  N.  W.  by  N.,  4  feet  down,  in  a  small  pocket  were  the 
greatly  decayed  remains  of  a  very  young  infant,  so  crushed  together  that  no  deter 
mination  as  to  position  Avas  possible.  Associated  were  a  number  of  shell  beads. 

Burial  No.  19,  19  feet  E.  by  S.  A  grave  extending  1  foot  10  inches  into 
undisturbed  sand,  the  base  3  feet  7  inches  from  the  surface,  with  a  maximum 
diameter  of  6.5  feet.  On  the  bottom  was  the  skeleton  of  a  female,  flexed  on  the 
right  side,  head  S.  On  the  trunk  was  hematite.  Under  the  arm  was  a  number  of 
beads  roughly  wrought  from  sections  of  columella?,  each  about  1  inch  in  length. 

Burial  No.  20,  16  feet  E.  by  N.,  4  feet  10  inches  from  the  surface,  on  the 
bottom  of  a  grave  6  feet  across  where  it  entered  undisturbed  sand  into  which  it 
extended  2  feet  8  inches,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  child  about  6  years  of  age,  flexed 
on  the  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  21,7  feet  N.  N.  W.  A  grave  having  its  base  2  feet  3  inches  from 
the  surface,  the  lower  1  foot  extending  into  a  layer  of  oyster  shells.  On  the  bottom 
of  the  grave,  which  had  a  length  of  22  inches,  was  the  skeleton  of  an  infant,  badly 
crushed,  with  the  head  S.  W.  Shell  beads  were  in  association. 

Burial  No.  22,  17  feet  S.  E.,  on  the  base  of  a  grave,  2.5  feet  from  the  surface 
and  extending  about  1  foot  9  inches  into  undisturbed  sand,  was  the  skeleton  of  a 
male,  flexed  on  the  left  side,  head  S.  With  it  were  large  shell  beads  and  an 
undecorated  earthenware  tobacco  pipe  of  ordinary  type  lying  near  the  skull. 

Burial  No.  23,  Vessel  Fa.,  b.  Let  into  the  yellow  sand,  with  its  base  3  feet  4 
inches  from  the  surface,  was  a  burial  jar  (Fa.)  of  the  usual  type,  imperforate,  up 
right  and  very  badly  crushed.  Within  it  were  bones,  probably  belonging  to  a 
female,  the  long  bones  on  end,  side  by  side,  near  the  skull,  the  other  bones  beneath. 
This  jar,  about  18  inches  high,  had  been  capped  by  an  inverted  bowl  (Fb.)  of 
black  ware,  with  a  decoration  of  small  knobs,  similar  to  the  one  previously  referred 
to.  This  bowl,  also  crushed,  was  sent  with  the  other  vessel  to  the  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  New  York. 

Burial  No.  24,  13  feet  S.  E.,  3  feet  from  the  surface,  in  a  pit  of  undetermined 
limits,  was  a  skeleton  of  a  female,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  25,  disturbed  by  the  burial  of  No.  24,  a  little  to  the  north  of  it  on 
the  same  level,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  child,  interred  with  an  imperforate  shell 
drinking  cup,  into  which  certain  of  the  bones  had  been  crushed. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     7!> 

Burial  No.  26,  12  feet  N.  K.  I»y  E.,  was  the  skeleton  of  an  Infant,  1  foot  9 
inches  down,  head  S.  K.  The  hones  were  too  badly  crushed  for  determination  as 
to  position,  etc. 

Burial  No.  27,  11  feet  E.  S.  E.,  on  the  bottom  of  a  pit  having  a  diameter  of 
2.5  feet  where  it  entered  the  clear  yellow  sand  into  which  it  extended  1  foot  2 
inches,  and  3  feet  10  inches  from  the  surface,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  child  about 
three  years  of  age,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  28,  8  feet  N.  E.,  4  feet  10  inches  down,  let  14  inches  into  undisturbed 
sand,  was  an  infant's  skeleton  somewhat  disturbed,  probably  by  the  digger. 

Burial  No.  29,  8  feet  E.  by  S.  was  another  badly-decayed  skeleton  of  an  infant, 
disturbed  in  excavation.  It  lay  5  feet  3  inches  from  the  surface  in  a  deep  pit. 

Burial  No.  30,  12  feet  W.  N.  W.,  in  the  superficial  layer  of  oyster  shells,  some 
what  disturbed  by  the  plow,  was  a  deposit  of  calcined  fragments  of  human  bones, 
the  only  evidence  of  the  practice  of  cremation  present  in  the  mound.  Scattered 
throughout  the  deposit  were  numerous  shell  beads  of  different  sizes,  including 
thirteen  fine  specimens  some  over  1.5  inches  in  length,  probably  wrought  from 
columellffl  of  the  conch  (Fulgur}.  These  beads  were  in  a  much  better  state  of 
preservation  than  others  in  the  mound,  which  we  attribute  to  their  being  among 
oyster  shells.  Above  the  deposit  was  an  inverted,  imperforate  drinking  cup  of  shell 
(Fulgur  perversum]  and  on  the  outer  edge  a  discoidal  stone  of  about  2  inches 
diameter. 

Burial  No.  31,  15  feet  W.  N.  W.,  an  infant's  skeleton  much  decayed,  3  feet 
3  inches  from  the  surface  in  a  small  pit  extending  1  foot  3  inches  below  the  base  of 
the  mound. 

Burial  No.  32,  N.  W.  by  N.,  5  feet,  lying  on  the  undisturbed  sand,  5  feet  from 
the  surface,  at  one  end  of  a  large  pit  running  2(5  inches  beneath  the  base,  was  the 
skeleton  of  a  male,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  33,  5  feet  E,  in  a  pit,  5  feet  from  the  surface,  were  the  badly-decayed 
remnants  of  the  skeleton  of  a  child.  Lumps  of  charcoal  lay  near  by. 

Burial  No.  34,  12  feet  S.  E.,  a  skeleton  of  a  female,  flexed  on  right  side,  head 
ing  S.  W.,  in  a  pit,  3.5  feet  from  the  surface. 

Burial  No.  35,  18  feet  W.  N.  W.,  a  skeleton  of  an  infant,  just  beneath  the  sur 
face,  disturbed  by  the  plow.  A  shell  pin  was  in  association. 

Burial  No.  36,  41  feet  S.  S.  E.,  on  the  bottom  of  a  small  pit,  32  inches  from 
the  surface,  were  the  remnants  of  a  skeleton  in  the  last  stage  of  decay.  Apparently 
it  was  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  W. 

Burial  No.  37,  38  feet  S.  S.  E.,  a  skeleton  of  a  female,  with  trunk  on  the  back, 
knees  flexed  to  the  right,  head  S.  E. 

Burial  No.  38,  11  feet  W.  N.  W.,  a  skeleton  of  a  male,  on  bottom  of  a  pit 
extending  into  yellow  sand,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  39,  16  feet  W.  by  N.,  3.5  feet  down,  in  a  small  pit  was  the  skeleton 
of  a  female,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  E. 

Burial  No.  40,  6  feet  S.  by  E.,  in  a  pit,  4  feet  10  inches  down,  was  the  skeleton 


80     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 


of  a  child,  head  S.  W.,  too  much  decayed  for  exact  determination  as  to  position,  but 
a  Hexed  burial  on  the  right  side  was  indicated.     At  the  neck  were  beads  of  shell. 

Burial  No.  41,  12  feet  S.  E.  by  S.,  3.5  feet  down,  with  the  skull  resting  on  the 
mouth  of  an  imperforate  shell  drinking  cup,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  child  from  six  to 
seven  years  of  age,  flexed  on  the  left  side,  the  head  S.  E.  Small  shell  beads  were 
at  the  neck  and  larger  ones  at  the  wrist. 

Burial  No.  42, 16  feet  W.,  on  the  base,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  heading  E.,  was 
the  skeleton  of  an  infant  about  2  years  old.  Shell  beads  were  on  the  legs  and  neck, 
a  shell  pin  at  the  back  of  the  head  and  a  shell  drinking  cup  nearby. 

Burial  No.  43,  18  feet  S,  2  feet  8  inches  down,  in  a  large  pit  was  the  skeleton 
of  a  female,  flexed  on  the  left  side,  head  S.  E. 

Burial  No.  44,  13  feet  S.  S.  W.,  in  a  pit  extending  1  foot 
into  undisturbed  sand,  3.5  feet  from  the  surface,  was  the  skeleton 
of  a  child  about  5  years  of  age,  flexed  on  the  left  side,  head  E. 
In  association  were  :  shell  beads ;  two  fragments  of  soapstone, 
from  a  pot  or  pots,  one  wrought  into  a  rude  pendant,  rouglily 
incised  and  grooved  (Fig.  50) ;  lumps  of  hematite ;  a  rough 
arrowpoint ;  a  bone  piercing  implement,  badly  decayed. 

Burial  No.  45,  16  feet  S.  W.,  in  a  pit,  4.5  feet  from  the  sur 
face,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  male,  flexed  on  the  left  side,  head  S. 
E.  This  pit  was  filled  with  a  mixture  of  oyster  shells  and 
surface  loam. 

Burial  No.  46,  in  the  same  pit,  southwest  of,  and  in  contact 
with.  No.  45,  on  the  same  plane,  was  a  number  of  bones  not  in 
Fig.  so.— Pendant  of  soap-   anatomical  order,  probably  belonging  to  a  female.     A  femur  lay 
Sontli-end  Settiement  partly  on  the  skull,  while  some  of  the  long  bones  were  out  of 

position  and  reversed. 

Burial  No.  47.  In  contact  with  No.  46  were  a  cranium,  a  femur  and  a 
humerus,  belonging  to  a  male. 

Burial  No.  48,  22  feet  S.  by  W.,  a  skeleton  badly  decayed  on  the  bottom  of  a 
pit,  4.5  feet  from  the  surface,  heading  E.  As  nearly  as  could  be  made  out,  the 
skeleton  was  flexed  on  the  left  side. 

Burial  No.  49,  22  feet  S.  W.,  a  skeleton  of  a  female  on  the  bottom  of  a  large 
pit,  3  feet  8  inches  down,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  E.  Immediately  above 
the  bones  was  a  thin  local  layer  of  oyster  shells. 

Burial  No.  50,  26  feet  S.  W.,  a  skeleton  of  a  female,  flexed  on  the  riiiht  side, 

'  •*  O 

head  S.,  on  the  bottom  of  a  pit,  3  feet  3  inches  from  the  surface. 

A  number  of  sherds,  undecorated,  cord-marked,  and  adorned  with  a  complica 
ted  stamp,  were  met  with  throughout  the  mound. 

Among  the  oyster  shells  was  a  piercing  implement  of  bone. 

Loose  in  the  sand  were  several  fragments  of  pebble-hammers  and  one  rude 
arrowhead  of  quartz. 

In  caved  sand,  probably  from  a  skeleton,  were  three  small  polished  stone  chisels. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     81 

In  the  mound  near  the  South-end  Settlement  we  note  the  absence  of  a  great 
central  pit  and  the  presence  of  cremation  at  but  one  point;  also  that  the  great 
majority  of  burials  were  flexed  on  the  right  side  and  headed  in  a  southerly  direction, 
quite  in  keeping  with  the  usual  custom.  All  urn-burials  of  uncremated  remains, 
with  but  one  exception,  were  of  adults,  coinciding  with  the  custom  as  practised  on 
Sapelo  Island.  On  the  other  hand,  the  reader  will  recall  tbat  infants  alone  were 
thus  buried  at  Creighton  Island,  and  will  see  further  on  the  urn-burial  of  infants 
at  Ossabaw  Island. 

ST.  CATHERINE'S  ISLAND,  LIBERTY  COUNTY.     MOUND  NEAR  MIDDLE  SETTLEMENT. 

In  a  large  field  formerly  under  cultivation,  but  at  present  covered  with  scrub 
and  timber  of  small  size,  about  one-half  mile  in  a  southwesterly  direction  from  the 
Middle  Settlement,  is  a  mound  which  has  been  ploughed  over  in  former  times  and 
has  been  dug  into  to  a  considerable  extent.  Its  height  is  5  feet ;  the  diameter  of  its 
base,  54  feet.  It  was  trenched  in  various  directions,  and  portions  of  the  center 
were  dug  out  without  result.  It  was  composed  of  yellowish-brown  sand,  unstratified, 
and  may  have  been  used  for  domiciliary  purposes. 

ST.  CATHERINE'S  ISLAND,  LIBERTY  COUNTY.     MOUND  IN  KING'S  NEW  GROUND  FIELD- 

This  mound,  or  what  remained  of  it  after  years  of  cultivation,  lay  in  a  field 
within  sight  of  the  ocean,  about  one  mile  and  three-quarters  in  a  southeasterly 
direction  from  the  main  lauding  at  St.  Catherine's  Island.  Numerous  low  shell 
deposits  were  in  the  vicinity,  though  on  the  surface  of  the  mound  were  scattered 
oyster  shells  only. 

The  mound  had  a  height  of  22  inches  above  the  general  level,  which  altitude 
agreed  with  observations  taken  at  the  completion  of  a  cross-section. 

Beginning  far  out  in  the  level  ground,  trenches  were  run  in,  in  all  directions, 
until  evidence  of  disturbance  in  the  sand  was  met  with.  The  usual  great  outlying 
pits,  filled  with  rich,  black  loam,  were  present,  but  containing  no  burials,  so  far  as 
our  excavations  went. 

Through  a  point  taken  as  the  center  of  the  mound  proper,  a  straight  line  was 
drawn  extending  -51  feet  to  the  northwest  and  45  feet  to  the  southeast.  Connecting 
these  two  terminal  points  an  irregular  semi-circumference  was  taken,  having  a  maxi 
mum  distance  from  the  center  of  57  feet,  as  shown  in  diagram  (Fig.  51),  which 
included,  it  is  believed,  all  the  outlying  pits  and  burials  belonging  to  the  southern 
and  western  half  of  the  mound.  This  portion  was  carefully  dug  through  to  a 
depth  at  times  of  over  G  feet.  The  eastern  and  northern  parts  of  the  mound  were 
not  investigated.  Throughout  portions  of  the  mound  ran  a  black  band  from  f> 
inches  to  1  foot  in  thickness,  whose  upper  surface,  as  a  rule,  agreed  with  the  general 
level  of  the  field.  But  this  band  wras  sometimes  absent  over  undisturbed  sand, 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  it  often  seemed  thicker  and  darker  over  pits  and  graves. 
We  have  no  solution  to  oft'er  for  this. 


82     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

Though  the  usual  great  central  pit  was  represented  in  this  mound  by  a  very 
moderate  deposit  of  bones,  yet  in  no  other  mound  have  we  found  so  many  grave-pits 
of  such  size  as  in  this  one. 

Beginning  40  feet  W.  S.  W.,  from  the  center,  was  a  pit  extending  in  15  feet 
and  having  a  breadth  of  25  feet1  and  a  maximum  depth  of  about  6  feet.  In  this 
grave-pit  were  Burials  Nos.  1,  7,  8,  12,  13,  15  and  22.  The  black  band  of  which 
we  have  spoken  was  distinctly  present  above  this  entire  pit  at  a  depth  of  about  2 
feet  below  the  surface  of  the  mound,  while  at  either  side  at  the  same  level,  over 
undisturbed  sand,  it  was  entirely  wanting  for  some  distance. 

There  were  present  a  few  local  layers  of  oyster  shells  and  one  mainly  of  fresh 
water  mussel  shells  (X),  13  inches  by  20  inches  by  10  inches  thick.  Its  upper 
margin  was  9  inches  below  the  surface. 


9-    "*** 


~*    .^ 


ea. 


* 


Fig.  51. — Diagram  of  one-half  of  mound  in  King's  New  Ground  Field. 

Sherds  found  by  us  were  coarse  and  either  undecorated  or  cord-marked.  The 
complicated  stamp  was  absent. 

We  give  detailed  descriptions  of  burials  in  connection  with  the  diagram, 
omitting,  as  a  rule,  the  size  of  pits  : — 

Burial  No.  1,  33  feet  S.  W.  from  the  center,  2.5  feet  down,  skeleton  of  female, 
head  E.  S.  E.,  at  full  length  on  back,  5  feet  10  inches  as  it  lay  with  feet  partly 
extended.2  Right  humerus  parallel  to  body,  with  forearm  up  and  across  chest. 
Left  humerus  along  trunk,  with  left  forearm  Hexed  upward  with  hand  to  shoulder. 
Right  ankle  crossing  left. 

1  These  and  kindred  measurements  are,  of  course,  approximate. 

2  These  measurements  of  skeletons  at  length  do  not  indicate  individuals  of  unusual  size.     The 
bones  were  not  so  closely  in  contact  as  in  life,  the  shifting  of  the  sand  causing  more  or  less  separation. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     83 

Burial  No.  2,  30  feet  S.  W.  by  S.,  "2  feet  8  inches  down,  skeleton  of  female  at 
full  length  on  back,  head  S.  E.,  face  to  the  right,  5  feet  4  inches  as  it  lay  with  feet 
partly  extended.  Right  arm  and  forearm  parallel  to  body.  Left  upper  arm  along 
body  with  forearm  crossing  to  pelvis.  A  few  long  bones  lay  loose  in  the  sand  about 
1  foot  above  this  burial. 

Burial  No.  3,  42  feet  W.,  2  feet  9  inches  down,  skeleton  of  aged  male,  head  S., 
in  semi-reclining  position  on  left  side.  Incisor  stumps  only  remaining  in  lower  jaw. 
Alveolar  process  of  other  teeth  absorbed.  This  especially  marked  in  upper  jaw. 
Signs  of  inflammatory  disease  in  tibia,  fibula  and  clavicle. 

Burial  No.  4,  25  feet  S.  by  W.,  2  feet  down,  head  W.  S.  W.,  trunk  on  back, 
legs  drawn  up,  knees  somewhat  to  the  left.  A  few  bits  of  earthenware,  perhaps 
by  accident,  lay  with  the  1  tones. 

Burial  No.  5,  25  feet  S.  by  E.,  4  feet  4  inches  to  the  bottom  of  a  pit  filled  with 
black  loam  and  oyster  shells,  extending  2  feet  G  inches  into  undisturbed  yellow  sand. 
Over  this  pit  the  black  band  continued,  though  dipping  somewhat.  Three  feet  8 
inches  down  in  this  grave  was  a  bunched  burial,  probably  of  a  male.  Long  bones 
were  on  either  side  of  the  skull,  while  two  clavicles,  together,  lay  somewhat  apart 
from  it.  Certain  bones  were  missing.  The  spinal  column  and  ribs  wen-  in  order, 
indicating  partial  union  by  ligaments.  One  ulna  and  one  clavicle  sent  to  Army 
Medical  Museum,  Washington,  D.  C.,  had  false  joints,  results  of  former  fractures. 

Burial  No.  G,  27  feet  S.  S.  W.,  3  feet  10  inches  down,  skeleton  of  a  child 
between  8  and  10  years  old,  at  length  on  face,  chin  toward  left  shoulder,  4  feet  4 
inches  as  it  lay,  with  feet  extended,  head  E.  by  S.  Both  upper  arms  parallel  to 
body  ;  right  forearm  crossing  under  pelvis ;  left  forearm  not  found,  probably  thrown 
back  by  digger. 

Burial  No.  7,  39  feet  W.  S.  W.,  4  feet  2  inches  down,  skeleton  of  female  at 
full  length  on  back,  head  S.  E.  by  S.,  5  feet  8  inches  from  head  to  heel  as  it  lay. 
Upper  extremities  parallel  to  body. 

Burial  No.  8,  33  feet  S.  W.  by  W.,  3  feet  10  inches  down,  skeleton  of  male  at 
full  length,  i'ace  down,  head  E.,  5  feet  6  inches  from  head  to  foot.  Right  and  left 
arms  parallel  to  body,  forearms  passing  under  pelvis. 

Burial  No.  9,  25  feet  S.  S.  E.,  4  feet  8  inches  down,  skeleton  of  male  at  full 
length  on  back,  5  feet  10  inches  long  with  feet  extended,  head  E.  by  N..  chin  to  left 
shoulder.  Right  upper  extremity  along  side  of  body.  Left  upper  arm  along  thorax 
with  forearm  crossing  to  pelvis. 

Loose  in  the  sand,  about  G  inches  above  No.  9,  was  the  femur  of  an  adult. 

Burial  No.  10,  28  feet  S.  E.  by  S.,  G.5  feet  down,  on  the  bottom  of  a  pit,  7  feet 
by  10  feet  and  extending  2  feet  10  inches  into  undisturbed  sand,  was  a  skeleton  of 
a  male  at  full  length  on  the  back,  measuring  G  feet  G  inches  as  it  lay,  with  feet 
extended,  head  E.  N.  E.,  chin  turned  toward  left  shoulder.  Arms  parallel  to  body. 
Sand  colored  with  hematite  lay  near  the  skull.  The  black  basal  band  lay  above 
this  pit. 

Burial   No.  11,  at  the  same  level,  but  a  little  farther  in  than  skeleton  No.  G, 


84     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

was  a  female  skeleton  on  the  left  side,  with  the  thighs  partially,  and  the  legs  com 
pletely,  flexed.  The  right  upper  extremity  was  parallel  to  the  body,  the  left  was 
down  and  under.  The  skeleton  measured  3  feet  10  inches  as  it  lay. 

Burial  No.  12,  38  feet  W.  by  S.,  5  feet  down,  a  number  of  human  bones  not  in 
anatomical  order. 

Burial  No.  13,  just  below  No.  12,  on  the  bottom  of  the  great  pit,  lying  on 
undisturbed  sand,  was  an  ordinary  flexed  burial  of  uncertain  sex,  on  the  left  side, 
head  N.  W.,  5  feet  9  inches  down. 

Burial  No.  14,  36  feet  W.,  2  feet  4  inches  down,  on  the  bottom  of  a  well-defined 
pit  apparently  dug  from  the  surface  and  filled  with  black  loam  and  oyster  shells, 
though  oyster  shells  on  the  surface  at  the  time  of  opening  the  mound  were  few  and 
scattering,  was  a  flexed  burial  of  a  male  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  S.  "W". 

Burial  No.  15,  29  feet  W.  S.  W.,  4  feet  5  inches  down,  the  skeleton  of  a  child, 
about  10  or  11  years  old,  measuring  4  feet  1  inch  as  it  lay,  on  the  right  side,  the 
thighs  somewhat  drawn  up,  the  knees  bent,  head  E.  S.  E.  Right  upper  extremity 
along  body,  the  left  crossing  to  pelvis. 

Burial  No.  10,  23  feet  S.  W.  by  S.,  2  feet  9  inches  down,  measuring  5  feet  3 
inches  as  it  lay,  with  feet  partly  extended,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  woman  on  the 
right  side  with  thighs  bent  slightly  forward,  legs  down  from  thighs.  Right  upper 
arm  a  little  out  from  body,  with  forearm  returning  to  trunk.  Left  upper  arm 
parallel  to  body,  with  forearm  crossing  the  pelvis.  Head  E.  by  S. 

Burial  No.  17,  24  feet  S.  S.  W.,  5  feet  down,  skeleton  of  a  child  about  5  years 
old,  full  length  on  back,  chin  toward  left  shoulder,  measuring  3  feet  4  inches  as  it  lay, 
with  feet  somewhat  extended.  Right  upper  arm  along  chest,  forearm  removed  by 
digger.  Left  humerus  along  chest,  forearm  crossing  to  pelvis. 

Burial  No.  18,  2-5  feet  S.  E.  by  S.,  4  feet  down,  skeleton  of  female  on  right 
side,  partly  flexed,  head  N.  E.  by  N.  Right  upper  arm  out  a  little  with  fore-, 
arm  returning  toward  pelvis.  Left  upper  arm  parallel  to  body,  with  forearm 
crossing  to  pelvis. 

Burial  No.  19,  20  feet  S.  S.  E.,  3  feet  10  inches  down,  female  flexed  on  right 
side,  head  N.  E. 

Burial  No.  20,  18  feet  S.  by  E.,  4  feet  down,  skeleton  of  female,  full  length, 
face  down,  measuring  5  feet  3  inches  from  head  to  heel,  head  E.  N.  E.  Right  arm 
akimbo.  Left  arm  parallel  to  body.  Left  heel  resting  on  right  ankle. 

Burial  No.  21.  23  feet  S.  W.  by  S.,  3  feet  8  inches  down,  were  two  burials  on 
the  same  plane,  diverging  from  the  knees  with  the  heads  2  feet  apart.  One,  a  male, 
lay  at  full  length  on  face,  and  measured  0  feet  3  inches  as  it  lay  with  feet  extended, 
head  S.  E.  Upper  extremities  parallel  to  body.  The  other,  a  female,  head  E.  S.  E., 
at  full  length  on  back,  measured  5  feet  11  inches,  with  outstretched  feet. 

Burial  No.  22,  28  feet  W.  S.  W.,  4  feet  9  inches  down,  skeleton  probably  female, 
full  length  on  back,  5.0  feet  long  with  feet  extended,  head  E.  by  S.  Right  upper 
arm  along  body  with  forearm  crossing  pelvis.  Left  upper  extremity  parallel  to 
trunk. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     85 

Burial  No.  23,  30  feet  N.  W.  by  W.,  4  feet  9  indies  down,  skeleton  ol'  male, 
at  full  length  on  back,  head  S.  K.,  5  feet  4  inches  from  head  to  heel.  Upper 
extremities  parallel  to  body. 

Burial  No.  24,  23  feet  N.  W.,  3  feet  ',»  inches  down,  skeleton  of  female,  partially 
Hexed  on  the  right  side,  with  head  N.  K.  by  K.  ;  thighs  at  right  angle  to  body,  legs 
Hexed  sharply  back  on  them. 

Burial  No.  25,  19  feet  S.  E.  by  S.,  5  feet  down,  skeleton  of  female,  at  full  length 
on  back,  5  feet  10  inches  long  with  feet  outstretched,  head  E.  by  S.  Upper 
extremities  parallel  to  body. 

Burial  No.  26,  17  feet  S.  W.  by  S.,  2  feet  down,  beneath  the  outer  margin  of 
a  local  shell  layer,  was  a  skull  witli  the  inferior  maxilary  wanting  and  a  portion 
of  one  rib.  The  local  shell  layer  was  7  inches  thick,  and  extended  inward  a 
number  of  feet. 

Burial  No.  27,  24  feet  W.  S.  W.,  3  feet  4  inches  down,  skeleton  of  male- 
Hexed  on  the  right  side,  measuring  2  feet  10  inches  as  it  lay,  the  head  pushed  up  at 
right  angle  to  the  body  by  lack  of  space  in  a  pit.  Head  N.  W.  On  the  glabella 
was  the  mark  of  a  severe  blow. 

Burial  No.  28,  13  feet  S.  E.  by  S..  skeleton  ol'  uncertain  sex,  2.5  feet  down,  in 
a  sort  of  sitting  position,  facing  S.  W. 

Burial  No.  29,  15  feet  S.  by  E.,  4  feet  down,  skeleton  of  female,  at  full  length 
on  back,  head  S.,  arms  parallel  with  body,  measuring  6  feet  as  it  lay,  the  feet  fully 
extended. 

Burial  No.  30,  20  feet  W.,  4  feet  down,  skeleton  of  female,  at  full  length  on 
face,  5  feet  2  inches  from  head  to  heel ;  head  S.  by  W.  Right  upper  extremity 
parallel  to  body.  Left  humerus  parallel,  forearm  crossing  to  pelvis. 

Burial  No.  31,  19  feet  W.  by  N.,  1  foot  G  inches  down,  flexed  skeleton  of  female, 
in  crouching  position,  head  N.,  face  looking  upward. 

Burial  No.  32,  11  feet  S.  S.  K.,  skeleton  of  female,  at  full  length,  face  down, 
head  N.  N.  E.  Legs  and  feet  cut  off  by  digger.  Right  upper  extremity  along  body. 
Left  humerus  a  little  out  with  forearm  crossing  under  pelvis. 

Burial  No.  33,  3  feet  below  No.  32.  Skeleton  of  female,  full  length  on  back, 
head  N.  E.  by  E.,  6  feet  G  inches  as  it  lay.  Arms  parallel  to  body. 

Burial  No.  34,  15  feet  S.  E.  by  S.  Skeleton  of  female,  at  full  length  on  back 
head  E.  S.  E.,  measuring  G  feet  2  inches,  slanting  into  a  pit  with  the  head  1  foot  9 
inches  below  the  feet. 

Burial  No.  35,  19  feet  W.  Skeleton  of  male,  in  crouching  position,  head  S., 
1  foot  9  inches  down. 

Burial  No.  36,  18  feet  W.  N.  W.,  1  foot  G  inches  down,  skeleton  of  adolescent, 
much  Hexed  on  right  side,  head  E.  On  the  skull  were  eight  parallel  rows  of  small 
shell  beads,  in  close  contact.  Under  the  chin  were  small  perforated  marine  shells 
(Olivella}.  The  epiphyses  of  this  skeleton  were  unattached.  Both  humeri  showed 
considerable  perforation . 

Burial  No.  37,  8  feet  S.  E.  by  S.,  skeleton  of  very  young  child,  at  full  length, 

11  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


80     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

head  S.  E..  too  badly  crushed  for  farther  determination.  With  it  was  the  base  of  a 
cord-marked  vessel  of  clay. 

Burial  No.  88,  G  feet  W.  by  N..  at  the  start  just  beneath  the  surface  and 
slanting  down  to  a  depth  of  1  foot  5  inches,  was  a  confused  mass  of  human  bones 
about  7  inches  thick,  4  feet  wide  and  tapering  inward  a  distance  of  2  feet  9  inches. 
At  one  extremity  of  this  deposit  were  a  few  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones,  so 
near  the  surface  that  probably  the  major  portion  had  been  scattered  by  cultivation. 
With  this  deposit  were  :  hematite ;  a  few  shell  beads ;  two  small,  imperforate  clay 
bowls,  the  smaller  inverted  within  the  larger ;  and  a  marine  shell  (Pecten  nodosus] 
in  two  fragments. 

In  this  mound,  so  far  as  investigated,  though  burials  at  length  predominated, 
we  note  a  considerable  diversity  of  forms,  a  contrast  to  a  neighboring  mound  in  the 
Greenseed  Field. 

The  paucity  of  artifacts  is  notable. 

ST.  CATHERINE'S  ISLAND,  LIHEKTY  COUNTY.     MOUND  IN  THE  GREENSEED  FIELD. 

This  mound,  in  a  field  long  under  cultivation,  about  1.5  miles  in  a  southerly 
direction  from  the  main  landing,  was  but  little,  if  any,  above  the  general  level.  A 
few  scattered  oyster  shells  were  lying  upon  the  surface.  In  order  to  include  any 
possible  pit  or  outlying  burial,  a  circle  with  a  diameter  of  84  feet  was  dug  through 
which  included  considerably  more  than  that  part  of  the  territory  devoted  to  inter 
ments,  the  most  remote  of  which  proving  to  be  31  feet  from  the  center.  Evidence 
of  human  handiwork  was  apparent  at  a  considerably  greater  distance.  As  in  the 
case  of  certain  other  mounds,  a  black  band,  apparently  a  basal  line,  was  present  at 
places,  occasionally  cut  through  by  pits,  and  again  following  the  line  of  excavation 
down  almost  to  the  upper  margin  of  the  bones. 

In  this  mound,  which  extended  some  distance  below  the  surface,  were  no  grave- 
pits  let  into  undisturbed  sand  and,  with  two  or  three  exceptions,  separate  graves  in 
the  body  of  the  mound  were  not  determinable. 

The  mound  was  composed  of  yellowish-brown  sand  with  practically  no  shell 
except  in  a  central  pit.  roughly  bowl-shaped,  having  a  maximum  diameter  of  about 
9  feet.  This  shell  deposit,  beginning  less  than  one  foot  below  the  surface,  with  a 
thickness  of  about  18  inches,  attained  a  depth  of  nearly  two  feet  in  the  center  of 
the  pit,  measured  from  its  upper  surface  to  the  surface  of  the  mound.  The  thick 
ness  of  the  deposit  at  this  point  was  about  2.5  feet.  Beneath  this  mass  of  shell  was 
Burial  No.  28,  which,  with  other  interments,  is  shown  on  the  diagram  (Fig.  52). 

The  usual  outlying  pits,  in  this  case  two  in  number,  were  present  in  this 
mound.  Both  were  filled  with  black  loam  and  scattering  oyster  shells.  One  began 
42  feet  from  the  center,  was  21  feet  across  and  extended  inward  18  feet.  Its  max 
imum  depth  was  3  feet  7  inches.  The  second  pit  began  47  feet  out,  was  23  feet 
across  and  extended  inward  15  feet.  Its  average  depth  coincided  with  that  of  the 
other.  As  usual,  no  burials  were  present  in  them. 

In  the  sand  of  the  mound  were  two  arrow  heads  and  a  number  of  rude  sherds. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     S7 

...M- 


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SZ®x<(*?1  i  ^5 


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Scaft   in 

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Fig.  ,r>2. — Diagram  of  mound  iu  Ureenseed  Field. 


88     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

Two,  from  one  vessel,  however,  were  of  good  quality.  No  example  of  the  com 
plicated  stamp  was  met  with. 

Human  remains  were  encountered  at  31  points.  Of  these,  25  were  skeletons 
from  which  comparatively  full  data  were  obtained.  The  hones  of  four  infants,  badly 
crushed,  were  present  in  addition,  and  two  layers  of  hones,  some  calcined,  others 
unaffected  by  fire. 

Of  the  25  skeletons  :  7  were  of  males ;  5  were  of  females  ;  8  were  uncertain  ; 
2  were  of  adolescents  ;  2  were  of  children  ;  while  the  skeleton  of  one  adult  was 
not  determined  owing  to  decay. 

Twenty-three  lay  full  length,  face  down,  while  two  lay  at  full  length  on  the 
back.  The  faces  of  the  prone  skeletons  occasionally  were  turned  to  the  side.  As 
a  rule  the  upper  extremities  were  parallel  to  the  body. 

There  seems  to  be  no  uniformity  of  direction  in  which  the  skeletons  lay.  The 
upper  portion  of  one  skeleton  was  missing  through  aboriginal  disturbance.  The 
other  24  headed  as  follows  :  E.,  2  ;  E.  by  N.,  1 ;  E.  N.  E.,  2  ;  N.  E.  by  E.,  1  ; 
N.  E.,  2  ;  N.  E.  by  N.,  2  ;  N.  N.  E..  1  ;  N.,  3 ;  N.  by  W.,  3 ;  W.,  1  ;  W.  S.  W.,  1  ; 
S.  by  W.,  1 ;  S.  s"  E.,  1 ;  S.  E.,  1 ;  E.  S.  E.,  1 ;  E.  by  S.,  1. 

Burial  No.  11,  15  feet  N.  E.  by  E.,  3  feet  3  inches  down,  was  a  layer  of  calcined 
fragments  of  human  bones,  23  inches  across  at  the  start  and  6  inches  thick.  Plight 
inches  in  it  had  tapered  to  a  width  of  Hi  inches,  though  keeping  the  same  thick 
ness.  It  converged  and  disappeared  15  inches  from  the  start.  Uncremated  bones 
were  mingled  throughout. 

Burial  No.  28.  On  the  undisturbed  yellow  sand  beneath  the  central  shell 
deposit  was  a  layer  of  bones  of  numerous  individuals,  inextricably  mixed,  having  a 
thickness  of  about  8  inches.  It  extended  in  4  feet  9  inches,  and  was  about  28  inches 
across.  At  the  western  extremity  were  a  few  fragments  of  calcined  bones  and 
numbers  of  tubular  shell  beads,  the  largest  2  inches  in  length.  In  addition,  were  a 
piercing  implement  of  bone,  and  several  considerable  portions  of  lower  jaws  of  large 
carnivores,  having  their  lower  parts,  including  much  of  the  roots  of  the  teeth, 
ground  away,  thus  widening  and  squaring  the  bases,  as  we  have  already  described 
in  this  Report,  and  shall  have  occasion  to  refer  to  again  in  relation  to  specimens 
from  a  mound  on  Ossabaw  Island.  Professor  Putnam  informs  us  that  jaws  similarly 
treated — human  and  of  lower  animals — from  the  mounds  of  Ohio  are  in  the  Peabody 
Museum,  Cambridge,  Mass.1 

It  has  been  suggested  that  this  method  of  treatment  originated  in  a  desire  to 
loosen  the  teeth  to  facilitate  extraction,  but  this  seems  hardly  likely,  for,  as  a  rule, 
teeth  treated  this  way  are  present  in  the  jaws  when  found,  and  we  have  never  seen 
single  teeth  pierced  for  suspension,  whose  bases  showed  evidence  of  grinding.  Jaws 
treated  in  this  way  have  been  considered  by  some  to  have  been  used  as  ornaments. 

There  is  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  a  rough  wooden 
effigy  or  mask,  from  Alaska,  representing  the  head  of  a  dog  or  of  a  wolf.  Set  in 
this  mask  are  jaws  imitated  in  bone,  squared  off  at  the  base  somewhat  like  the 
'  See  also  "  Primitive  Man  in  Ohio,"  Moorehead,  page  227,  ei  seq. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     89 

jaws  from  the  mounds,  and,  as  the  wide-spread  prevalence  of  aboriginal  customs  is 
well  known,  we  think  it  not  unlikely  that  the  jaws  from  the  mounds,  in  former 
times,  sawr  service  in  masks  of  wood,  which  have  disappeared  through  decay. 
Professor  Cushing  lately  found  in  Florida  numbers  of  wooden  masks  with  other 
aboriginal  articles  of  wood  preserved  beneath  mud,  and  it  is  our  opinion  that  the 
aborigines  of  the  sand  mounds  inhumed  numbers  of  articles  of  wood  which  have 
not  lasted  until  the  present  time.  In  fact,  our  own  researches  in  Florida  mounds 
have  brought  to  light  wood  preserved  by  contact  with  copper. 

A  few  beads,  hematite  and  fragments  of  uninteresting  vessels,  represented  all 
additional  articles  met  with  in  the  mound 

ST.  CATHERINE'S  ISLAND,  LIHEKTV  COUNTY.     MOUND  NKAK  THE  LHJHT-HOUSE. 

In  the  border  of  the  woods,  in  view  of  the  sea,  about  one-half  mile  in  a  south 
easterly  direction  from  the  landing,  near  the  site  of  the  projected  light-house,  was  a 
fairly  symmetrical  mound  entirely  of  sand,  having  a  height  of  8  feet,  a  diameter 
at  base  of  50  feet. 

Much  of  the  mound  was  dug  through.  At  places  were  bits  of  decayed  human 
bones  near  the  surface,  and.  near  the  center,  just  below  the  surface,  a  pocket  of  cal 
cined  fragments  of  human  bones  belonging  to  at  least  two  adults  and  one  adolescent. 

About  6  feet  from  the  center,  in  a  grave  beneath  the  base,  was  a  badly-decayed 
skeleton  on  its  back  with  knees  Hexed  against  the  thighs.  Near  it  lay  another. 

One  arrowhead  of  chert  lay  loose  in  the  sand. 

ST.  CATHERINE'S  ISLAND,  LIBERTY  COUNTY.     Low  MOUNDS  AT  THE  NORTH-END. 

In  pine  woods,  about  1  mile  i-n  an  easterly  direction  from  the  main  landing  are 
two  mounds  about  50  yards  apart,  the  larger  having  a  diameter  of  42  feet,  a  height 
of  3  feet ;  the  smaller,  a  diameter  of  80  feet,  a  height  of  14  inches.  There  had 
been  no  previous  examination.  Each  of  these  mounds  was  excavated  as  to  the 
central  portions  and  was  thoroughly  trenched.  A  few  fragments  of  a  decaying 
human  cranium  were  met  with  in  the  smaller  mound,  while  the  investigation  of  the 
larger  was  without  result. 

In  the  vicinity  of  these  mounds  was  a  somewhat  larger  one  which,  being  a 
valued  land  mark,  we  did  not  touch. 

Careful  attention  was  paid  to  numerous  low  shell-heaps  studding  the  island  of 
St.  Catherine's.  In  some,  results  were  negative,  while  from  others  came  sherds 
incised  and  with  the  complicated  stamped  decoration  in  use  in  the  best  class  of  the 
burial  mounds  of  the  coast. 

OSSAHAW  ISLAND.  BRYAN  COUNTY.      MIDDLE  SETTLEMENT.  MOUND  A. 

About  half  way  from  either  extremity  of  the  western  side  of  Ossabaw  Island, 
on  a  small  creek  about  five  miles  from  the  main  channel,  are  a  few  cabins  tenanted 
exclusively  by  colored  people,  and  known  as  the  Middle  Settlement. 


'.Ml     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

Near  this  settlement  are  a  number  of  aboriginal  mounds  on  property  controlled 
by  Mr.  C.  II.  Harper  of  Rome,  Georgia. 

In  a  Held  long  under  cultivation,  at  the  southern  outskirt  of  the  settlement, 
was  a  low  mound,  probably  much  reduced  in  height  by  the  plow,  which,  in  addition, 
had  been  impaired  for  complete  archaeological  investigation  by  the  hauling  away  of 
a  considerable  quantity  of  oyster  shells  from  the  central  portion.  The  depression 
thus  made  was  clearly  apparent,  and  nowhere  extended  through  the  layer  of  oyster 
shells  with  which  all  but  the  marginal  portion  of  the  mound  was  covered.  How 
ever,  as  no  artifacts  or  burials  were  found  by  us  entirely  in  the  shell  layer,  and  as 
the  marginal  portion  of  the  mound  seemed  to  be  intact,  it  would  appeal1  that  no 
material  injury  had  been  done.  Nevertheless,  the  colored  man  who  had  super 
intended  the  removal  of  the  shell  previous  to  our  work,  referred  to  skeletons  and 
earthenware-  pots  containing  bones,  found  by  him,  so  the  result  of  our  investigation 
must  not  be  regarded  as  complete. 

The  mound  was  dug  through  at  a  depth  much  below  the  general  level,  during 
the  latter  part  of  November,  189G. 

The  mound,  with  a  height  of  18  inches  and  a  diameter  of  base  of  about  45 
feet,  was  composed  of  a  rich  loamy  sand  of  a  dark  brown  color,  extending  much 
below  the  level  of  the  surrounding  territory  to  undisturbed  bright  yellow  sand. 
There  was  no  mistaking  the  artificial  portion  of  the  mound.  The  thickness  of  the 
highest  remaining  part  was  28  inches,  or  18  inches  above  the  general  level  and 
10  inches  below  it.  The  deposit  of  oyster  shells,  to  which  reference  has  been 
made,  was  of  irregular  thickness,  averaging,  perhaps,  1 G  inches.  Throughout  this 
interesting  mound  were  great  numbers  of  sherds  and  many  vessels  of  earthenware 
of  poor  material — clay  mixed  with  coarse  sand — gritty  ware,  as  it  is  called.  Owing 
to  the  inferiority  of  the  material  comparatively  few  were  recovered  in  good  condition 
though  nearly  all  had  been  interred  apparently  intact — save  perforation  of  the 
base  in  some  cases — -and  not  broken  or  with  essential  portions  missing,  as  they 
were  often  buried  by  the  thrifty  Florida  Indians.  The  ordinary  form  of  mortuary 
ware  encountered  in  this  mound  had  the-  rounded  base  and  almost  cylindrical 
body  contracted  slightly  at  the  neck  beneath  a  flaring  rim,  often  with  a  beaded 
margin,  to  which  we  have  often  referred  as  the  ordinary  type. 

Besides  numerous  sherds  there  were  found  in  the  mound,  loose  in  the  sand,  two 
large  beads  of  shell,  one  pebble-hammer  and  a  mass  of  stone  about  two-thirds  the 
size  of  a  clenched  fist,  probably  a  portion  of  a  hammer-stone. 

We  proceed  to  a  detailed  description  in  conjunction  with  the  diagram  (Fig.  53). 

Burial  No.  1,  24  feet  S.  of  a  point  supposed  to  occupy  a  central  position  on  the 
surface  of  the  mound,  1  foot  from  the  surface,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  child  about 
5  years  of  age,  head  E. 

Burial  No.  2,  22  feet  S.  by  E.,  skeleton  of  a  female,  head  S.,  cranial  sutures  open, 
well  defined  Inca  bone.  Cranium  preserved  in  good  condition  (A.  N.  8.  Cat.  No. 
2,104).  Body  on  back  with  lower  extremities  flexed  to  the  right.  A  small  layer  of 
charcoal,  with  minute  fragments  of  calcined  bones  intermingled,  lay  over  the  lower 
portion  of  the  trunk.  This  skeleton  was  1  foot  10  inches  from  the  surface. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF  THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     '.)! 


Q< 


O 


ar 

0 


O 


Q, 


Scale  in  feet 
i      Z     3    *     S   ' 


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6 


6 


°c 

mm  <* 


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a 


Fig.  o3. — Diagram  of  Mound  A. 


92     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

Burial  No.  3,  Vessel  A,  21  feet  S.,  1  foot  from  the  surface  to  its  upper  margin, 
upright,  as  were  all  the  mortuary  vessels  in  this  mound,  was  a  bowl  of  about  four 
gallons  capacity,  crushed  into  fragments.  The  vessel,  imperforate,  was  filled  with 
sand.  On  its  base  was  the  skeleton,  or  parts  of  the  skeleton,  of  a  child  about  six  years 
of  age,  unaffected  by  fire,  which  apparently  had  been  doubled  and  thrust  in.  The 
pelvis  and  bones  of  one  leg  were  not  discovered. 

Vessel  B,  19  feet  S.  Just  below  the  surface  was  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type, 
having  an  intentionally-made  perforation  in  the  base.  No  covering  protected  the 
vessel  and  no  bones  or  remnants  of  bone  were  discovered,  though  beyond  question, 
in  our  opinion,  the  skeletal  remains  of  a  small  infant  had  disappeared  through 
decay. 

Vessel  C,  18  feet  W.  of  S.1  About  1  foot  from  the  surface  was  a  layer  about  2 
feet  long,  composed  of  scattered  fragments  of  large  vessels. 

Vessel  D,  23  feet  S.  E.,  19  inches  down  (all  measurements  of  depth  in  our 
account  of  this  mound  are  given  to  the  upper  margin  of  objects),  was  a  vessel  of  the 
ordinary  type  though  with  unusually  distinct  decoration.  Its  base  had  been  inten 
tionally  perforated.  Portions  crushed  from  the  rim  have  been,  with  one  small  excep 
tion,  recovered  and  fastened  in  place.  No  skeletal  remains  were  found  in  the  sand 
with  which  this  vessel  was  filled,  and  doubtless  here  again  the  work  of  decay  had  been 
complete.  Approximate  measurements:  height,  17  inches;  diameter  of  mouth, 
14  inches;  maximum  diameter  of  body,  12  inches  (Plate  IX). 

Vessel  E,  20  feet  S.,  20  inches  from  the  surface.  This  vessel  is  not  farther 
referred  to  in  our  notes  and  was  probably  in  a  very  fragmentary  condition. 

Burial  No.  4,  Vessel  F,  24  feet  S.  E.,  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  12  inches 
from  the  surface,  containing  on  the  bottom,  which  was  perforated,  the  bones  of  a 
child,  in  no  apparent  order  and  greatly  decayed.  This  vessel  was  badly  broken. 
Nearby  in  the  sand  was  a  small  chisel  of  polished  volcanic  rock — Dolerite  or  Diorite. 

Burial  No.  5,  just  north  of  Vessel  D,  loose  in  the  sand,  were  a  patella  and  a 
fibula  of  an  adult. 

Vessel  G,  22  feet  S.  E.  A  globular  vessel  of  about  1  gallon  capacity,  having 
the  bottom  knocked  out.  Incised  decoration  surrounds  the  upper  portion.  Parts 
of  the  rim  are  missing. 

Burial  No.  6,  Vessel  H,  23  feet  E.  S.  E.  A  large  vessel  1C  inches  down, 
crushed  into  small  fragments.  With  it  were  a  few  bits  of  calcined  human  remains. 

Vessel  I,  22  feet  S.  E.  Two  feet  from  the  surface  was  a  globular  vessel  with 
rlaring  rim  and  incised  decoration  (Plate  XIII,  Fig.  2).  An  attempt  to  knock  out 
the  base  had  involved  a  part  of  the  side  and  of  the  rim.  Many  portions  were  missing. 
Approximate  measurements:  diameter  at  mouth,  5.5  inches ;  maximum  diameter, 
7  inches;  height,  6.5  inches. 

Vessel  J,  22  feet  E.  by  S.,  a  globular,  undecorated,  imperforate  vessel,  2  feet 
down.  Rim  broken  off  and  missing.  Maximum  diameter,  5  inches. 

1  West  of  south  and  corresponding  terms,  though  not  points  of  the  compass,  are  used  by  us  to 
allow  a  somewhat  wide  latitude  in  indicating  position  on  the  diagram. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     93 

Burial  No.  Gi,  Vessel  K,  21  feet  K.  by  S.,  2  feet  5  inches  down,  a  vessel 
crushed  to  small  fragments,  among  which  lay  bits  of  calcined  human  bones. 

Vessel  L,  21  feet  S.  E.,  2  feet  down,  just  below  a  local  layer  of  oyster  shells, 
was  an  imperforate,  undecorated  dish,  with  a  maximum  diameter  of  4.5  inches,  a 
height  of  2.1  inches.  This  little  vessel,  a  flattened  cone  in  shape,  was  entirely 
unassociated. 

Vessel  M,  22  feet  S.  by  E.,  a  large  undecorated  vessel  in  small  fragments. 

Burial  No.  7,  Vessel  N,  18  feet  S.  by  E.,  a  somewhat  broken  vessel  of  the  usual 
type,  with  perforated  base,  containing  the  bones  of  an  infant,  unaffected  by  fire, 
apparently  in  anatomical  order.  Just  above  the  skull  (the  bones  lay  at  the  bottom 
of  the  vessel)  was  a  large  fragment  of  earthenware  not  sufficient  in  si/.e,  however. 
to  prevent  the  entrance  of  sand.  This  vessel  was  sent  to  the  .Museum  of  tin- 
University  of  Pennsylvania. 

XX,  21  feet  S.  E.,  a  layer  of  oyster  shells  calcined  to  a  white  powder.  '•'>  feet 
by  7  feet  and  4  to  5  inches  thick.  At  one  point  were  bits  of  charcoal.  The  outer 
margin  of  this  layer  was  20  inches  from  the  surface.  A  gradual  slope  carried  its 
terminal  margin  to  a  level  1  foot  higher. 

Burial  No.  8,  23  feet  S.  of  E.,  skeleton  of  a  young  person,  Hexed  on  the  right 
side,  head  S. 

Vessel  (),  20  feet  E.,  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  extremely  rotten  and 
fragmentary. 

Vessel  P,  21  feet  S.  of  E.,  an  imperforate  vessel  of  the  common  type,  but  of 
rather  better  and  thicker  material  than  usual,  though  crushed  to  fragments.  This 
vessel,  which  had  doubtless  held  an  infant's  skeleton  (though  no  remnants  were 
apparent)  was  capped  by  a  number  of  large  fragments  which  had  formed  parts  of 
an  undecorated  bowl.  These,  with  the  fragments  of  Vessel  P.  were  sent  to  the 
Peabody  Museum,  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  they  have  been  carefully  put  together. 

Burial  No.  9,  Vessel  (I  29  feet  N.  E.  by  E.,  1  foot  4  inches  from  the  surface, 
a  vessel  of  the  usual  type,  imperforate,  containing  decaying  remnants  of  an  infant's 
skull.  The  body  of  the  vessel  was  crushed  to  small  fragments. 

Burial  No.  10,  Vessel  Ra,  29  feet  N.  E.  by  E..  a  vessel  of  the  usual  type. 
18  inches  from  the  surface,  17  inches  of  which  was  the  unbroken  layer  of  oyster 
shells.  It  ran  14  inches  into  the  undisturbed  yellow  sand  (the  reader  will  recall 
that  the  depth  given  is  taken  from  the  upper  margin),  where  an  excavation  had 
been  made  to  receive  it.  Its  base  contained  a  small,  neatly  cut  perforation  large 
enough  to  admit  the  first  joint  of  the  little  finger.  In  the  sand  at  the  bottom  there 
remained  one  deciduous  tooth. 

Above  Ra,  inverted,  was  a  bowl  of  black  ware  (Rb)  somewhat  broken,  the 
upper  part  having  incised  decoration  ;  the  lower,  intricate  stamped  decoration  (Plate 
X).  Approximate  measurements:  diameter,  12.75  inches;  diameter  of  opening, 
12  inches;  height,  5.75  inches. 

Burial  No.  11,  Vessel  Sa,  19  feet  E.,  a  vessel  of  the  usual  type,  badly  crushed 
and  broken.  At  the  bottom  were  fragments  of  human  bone  so  decayed  as  to 

12  JOURX.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


1)4     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

resemble  sawdust.  Two  bits,  larger  tliim  the  rest,  belonged  to  a  child  of  tender 
years.  No  fire  had  been  used  in  connection  with  these  remains,  and  the  reader 
will  bear  in  mind  that  when  cremation  had  been  employed,  the  fact  will  be  distinctly 
stated.  This  vessel,  lacking  certain  portions,  was  sent  to  the  Davenport  Academy 
of  Natural  Science,  Davenport,  Iowa. 

Sa  was  capped  by  a  bowl  of  black  ware  (Sb)  undecorated,  save  for  an  encircling 
row  of  projections  somewhat  below  the  margin  (Plate  XI).  It  was  practically 
intact.  Approximate  measurements :  maximum  diameter,  13.75  inches;  diameter 
of  aperture.  12.7")  inches;  height.  G.25  inches.  From  the  upturned  base  of  this 
bowl  to  the  surface  of  the  mound  was  a  distance  of  2  feet  2  inches. 

Burial  No.  12.  Vessel  T.  28  feet  N.  K.,  1  foot  5  inches  from  surface,  a  vessel 
of  the  usual  type,  almost  intact.  In  the  sand  at  the  bottom  were  minute  fragments 
of  bone  with  two  deciduous  teeth  and  the  cap  of  another.  A  small  hole  had  been 
knocked  through  the  base.  Approximate  measurements:  height,  18.5  inches; 
maximum  diameter  of  body,  13.5  inches;  diameter  at  aperture,  1C  inches. 

Burial  No.  13,  beginning  14  feet  E.,just  below  the  surface  was  a  layer  of 
calcined  human  remains,  at  first  22  inches  wide,  gradually  increasing  to  5  feet. 
Its  thickness,  2  inches  at  first,  was  6  inches  at  its  terminal  limit.  It  extended  in 
toward  the  center  of  the  mound,  a  distance  of  4.5  feet,  where  it  was  2  feet  below 
the  surface.  With  the  fragmentary  bones  were  found  two  shell  pins  and  one  small 
bead  of  shell. 

Vessel  I  .  12  feet  K..  portions  of  a  vessel  of  black  ware,  3  feet  from  the  surface. 
Its  only  decoration  was  a  row  of  knobs  around  and  below  the  margin. 

Vessel  Va,  13  feet  K..  a  vessel  of  the  common  type,  was  intact  save  for  two 
.small  pieces  missing  from  the  rim.  In  the  base  was  a  small  perforation,  above  which 
was  the  bottom  of  a  pot  tightly  fitted  in.  Upper  portions  of  this  pot,  which  was 
incomplete,  lay  within  it.  Va  was  capped  by  large  sherds  seemingly  belonging  to 
one  vessel,' perhaps  placed  there  in  a  less  fragmentary  condition  and  subsequently 
crushed  by  weight  of  sand.  No  human  remains  were  found  in  Va,  though  there 
can  be  but  little  doubt  as  to  their  former  presence. 

Burial  No.  14,  in  a  grave,  3  feet  from  the  surface.  3.5  feet  in  length,  dipping  1 
foot  into  the  yellow  sand,  almost  in  contact  with  the  vessel  Va,  which,  however, 
was  not  within  the  limits  of  the  grave,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  person  about 
eighteen  years  of  age.  with  epiphyses  of  femurs  and  tibia1  unattached  and  one 
wisdom  tooth  showing.  The  skeleton  lay  on  the  right  side,  the  legs  flexed,  head  S. 
The  cranium  (A.  N.  S.  Cat.  No.  2,1  (55)  was  preserved  in  good  condition.  Above  this 
grave  the  layer  of  oyster  shells  on  the  surface  was  intact. 

Burial  No.  15,  20  feet  N.  K..  a  bunched  burial  of  the  bones  of  a  child  about  G 
years  of  age,  2  feet  from  the  surface. 

Burial  No.  1(5,  12  feet  N.,  a  layer  of  calcined  fragments  of  human  bones,  1C 
inches  from  the  surface.  Its  maximum  thickness  was  2  inches  ;  its  length.  2.5  feet; 
its  breadth.  2  feet. 

Burial  No.  1  7.  Vessel  Wa,  14  feet  N.  by  K..  1  foot  G  inches  from  the  surface, 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE   GEORGIA   COAST.     'JO 

in  the  brown  sand  and  just  beneath  the  layer  of  oyster  shells,  was  a  gourd-shaped, 
undecorated  vessel  of  black  ware,  intact  save  for  a  small  crack  on  the  side.  This 
vessel  was  filled  almost  to  the  top  with  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones  some  of 
which  at  least  had  belonged  to  adults,  and.  in  common  with  all  we  have  encountered 
containing  calcined  bones,  was  Lmperforate  as  to  the  base.  Approximate  measure 
ments  :  height,  8.-")  inches;  maximum  diameter.  Id  inches;  diameter  of  orifice,  5 
inches. 

Superimposed  upon  the  orifice  of  Wa,  inverted,  was  a  small  vessel  (Wb).  with 
everted  rim  somewhat  broken,  though  capable  of  almost  complete  restoration. 

Burial   No.  IS,  Vessel   X.  immediately  behind   Wa.  1  ~>  inches  from  the  surface 

v 

was  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type  in  use  for  infant  inhumation,  imperforate,  filled  to 
the  top  with  calcined  fragments  of  human  bones.  Approximate  measurements: 
height,  !•>  inches;  diameter  of  body.  11  inches;  diameter- of  aperture,  1  •!  inches. 
This  vessel  was  sent  to  the  Carnegie  Museum.  Pittsburgh. 

Twenty  feet  E.  of  N.  K.,  the  brown  sand 'of  the  mound  made  a  dip  into  the 
undisturbed  yellow  sand  to  a  depth  of  '2 1  inches.  From  the  level  of  the  yellow 
sand  to  the  surface  of  the  mound  was  '27  inches,  so  that  the  bottom  of  this  excava 
tion,  which  was  beneath  an  unbroken  layer  of  oyster  shells  on  the  surface,  was  4 
feet  deep.  At  the  very  bast'  of  the  excavation  were  several  good-sized  fragments 
of  earthenware  but  no  human  remains  or  anything  to  suggest  a  reason  for  its 
construction. 

Burial  No.  I'.',  Vessel  V,  17  feet  N.  by  E.,  14  inches  from  the  surface  was  an 
imperforate  vessel  of  the  usual  form  with  stumped  ornamentation  on  the  body  but 
having  the  constricted  portion  and  the  rim  undecorated.  This  vessel,  which  was 
filled  with  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones,  was  crushed  to  pieces  though  held 
in  place  by  sand.  It  was  pieced  together  with  the  exception  of  a  few  small  bits. 
Approximate  measurements:  diameter  of  orifice.  U  inches;  of  neck,  7  inches;  of 
body,  8  inches;  height,  U.")  inches. 

Burial  No.  '20,  1-!  feet  E.  N.  lv,  a  pocket  of  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones, 
•">  feet  9  inches  by  4  feet  0  inches,  from  '2  to  5  inches  in  thickness.  With  the 
remains  at  several  points  were  large  pieces  of  earthenware  representing  perhaps  a 
fourth  of  a  vessel.  They  were  distinctly  not  fragments  of  an  entire  vessel  crushed 
through  pressure. 

Burial  No.  '21.  Vessel  Za,  1C  feet  N.  E.,  an  imperforate  vessel  of  the  common 
type  having  a  height  of  about  1  toot,  with  rim  and  portions  of  the  body  crushed 
but  lying  beside  it.  It  was  filled  with  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones.  Across 
the  opening  were  large  fragments  of  a  portion  of  another  vessel.  "Xa  was  sent  to 
the  Peabody  Museum.  Cambridge,  where  it  has  been  almost  entirely  pieced  together. 

Burial  No.  22.  Together,  practically  in  contact,  were  four  cinerary  vases  each 
filled  to  the  top  with  fragments  of  charred  and  calcined  human  bones,  with  which 
were  numerous  shell  beads  showing  no  trace  of  fire,  placed  in  an  excavation  made  in 
the  yellow  sand  (CC),  and  filled  around  with  brown  sand  (BB)  to  the  level  of  the 
rims,  or  rather  to  where  the  rims  had  been  previous  to  breakage,  and  covered  from 


90     CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 


Fig.  T>4.  —  Deposit  of  cinerary  urns.     Mound  A.  (Xot  on  scale.) 


the  tops  up  with  oyster  shells  (AA),  which  dipped  to  the  upper  margin  of  the  vessels 
as  shown  in  Fig.  54.     These  vessels  are  represented  by  the  following: 

Vessel  A  A  (Plate  XII),  of  red    ware,  imperforate,  with    upright    neck    and 
slightly  flaring  rim.      The  usual  complicated  stamped  decoration  is  present.     This 

vessel  has  been  pieced  together 

is-arfx: 

..... 


from  a  very  fragmentary  condi 
tion,  with  several  portions  want 
ing.  Approximate  measure 
ments  :  height,  IG  inches; 
maximum  diameter,  14  inches; 
diameter  of  mouth,  10.5  inches. 
Over  its  mouth  was  part  of 
the  bottom  of  an  earthenware 
vessel. 

VeSSCl    lilia,    OI     tile    USUal 

model,  though  of  black  ware. 

was  capped  with  a  dish  of  red  ware  (BBb).  Both,  though  held  in  place,  were  in 
fragments. 

Vessel  CC  was  a  large  undecorated  bowl  of  earthenware  holding  within  it,  in 
an  upright  position,  a  vessel  (DD)  of  the  usual  type,  covered  as  to  its  orifice  with 
pieces  of  earthenware.  Both  vessels,  though  held  in  place,  were  very  badly  crushed. 

Vessel  EK,  a  vessel  of  the  usual  type,  its  mouth  covered  with  fragments  of 
earthenware.  The  rim  was  badly  crushed  and  portions  of  it  were  not  recovered. 
This  vessel  was  sent  to  the  Ontario  Archaeological  Museum,  Toronto,  Ontario. 

Under  perfectly  level  ground,  adjacent  to  the  mound  and  beginning  at  that 
portion  of  the  margin  included  between  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  i  W.,  were  outlying  burials 
as  shown  in  diagram  Fig.  55.  The  ground  seemed  to  have  suffered  a  general  disturb 
ance  at  the  period  of  the  inhumations  and  individual  pits  were  difficult  to  determine 
though  several  were  unquestionably  met  with. 

Vessel  FF,  "11  feet  S.,  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  upright,  its  base  31  inches 
below  the  surface.  It  was  badly  crushed.  Though  no  trace  of  human  remains 
was  present  it  had  doubtless  contained  the  skeleton  of  a  very  young  infant.  The 
fragments  were  sent  to  the  Peabody  Museum,  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Burial  No.  23,  Vessel  GG,  27  feet  S.  S.  E.,  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type, 
imperforate,  with  the  entire  upper  portion  crushed  away.  Minute  fragments  of 
bone  were  present. 

Burial  No.  -24,  28  feet  S.  by  W..  30  inches  from  surface,1  extending  somewhat 
into  undisturbed  sand,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  child  three  to  five  years  of  age,  flexed 
on  the  right  side,  head  S. 

Vessel  IIH,  33  feet  E.  by  N..  an  imperforate.  undecorated  vessel,  globular  as 
to  its  body,  with  constricted  neck  and  flaring  rim,  apparently  unassociated  and  intact 

1  Depths  of  vessels  and  of  skeletons  in  the  outlying  part  of  Mound  A,  were  taken  from  the 
under  margins. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     07 


JJ.XK 


O 


IE 


Scale  in  j 
2  J   *  j-   I 


25 


Q 


c 


32 


3? 


21* 


3* 


3ioo 


Fig.  5r>. — Diagram  of  outlying  portion  of  Mound  A. 


98     CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

but   lor  si  small  breakage  of  the  rim.     Approximate  measurements  :  diameter  of 
mouth,  5.5  inches;  of  body,  the  same;  height,  4.5  inches. 

Burial  No.  25,  29  feet  S.,  25  inches  down,,  skeleton  of  child  about  five  years  of 
age,  flexed  on  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  20,  32  feet  E.  S.  E.,  part  of  a  skull  and  of  a  clavicle,  near  the  surface. 

Burial  No.  27,  31  feet  E.,  2  feet  6  inches  down.  Remains  of  a  child,  very  much 
decayed,  apparently  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  E. 

Vessel  II,  33  feet  S.  by  E.,  an  imperforate  bowl,  apparently  unassociated,  with 
a  maximum  diameter  at  its  mouth  of  7.2  inches  and  a  height  of  3  inches,  decorated 
with  incised  lines  below  the  exterior  margin  (Plate  XIII,  Fig.  1).  No  trace  of 
human  remains  was  discovered. 

Burial  No.  27i,  Vessels  JJ  and  KK.  Vessel  JJ,  a  bowl  with  a  faint  stamped 
decoration,  imperforate,  in  fragments  but  held  in  place  by  sand.  Its  outline  was  some 
what  that  of  an  inverted,  truncated  cone.  Approximately  it  measured  12.5  inches 
maximum  diameter  and  diameter  of  mouth.  Its  height  was  7  inches.  This  bowl 
had  been  placed  over  the  mouth  of  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type  (KK),  but  was 
not  inverted  as  usual  but  let  into  the  opening  in  an  upright  position.  From  the 
upper  margin  of  JJ  to  the  surface  was  11  inches.  KK,  a  vessel  of  ordinary  type, 
14  inches  in  height,  was  badly  crushed.  Its  base,  which  had  a  perforation,  was 
below  the  water  level,  27  inches  down.  It  contained  deciduous  human  teeth. 

Burial  No.  28,  34  fee.t  S.  by  E.,  a  skeleton  of  a  female.  Hexed  on  the  right  side, 
head  S.  W.,  2  feet  from  the  surface.  With  it  was  an  imperforate  bowl  (LL)  with 
handle  projecting  from  upper  margin  at  one  side,  and  interestingly  decorated,  as 
shown  in  Plate  XIV,  Fig  1.  Approximate  measurements  :  diameter  of  mouth,  6 
inches;  maximum  diameter  of  body,  0.2  inches;  height,  2.8  inches. 

Burial  No.  29,  Vessel  MM,  34  feet  S.  S.  E.,  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  with 
base-perforation,  the  rim  and  part  of  the  body  ploughed  away  and  lost.  Human 
remains  were  represented  by  one  deciduous  molar. 

Burial  No.  30,  32  feet  S.  E.  by  S.,  skeleton  of  female,  flexed  on  right  side,  head 
S.  E.  by  S.,  2  feet  10  inches  down. 

Vessel  NN,  42  feet  E.,  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  with  base  perforation, 
rim  and  part  of  body  ploughed  away.  The  infant's  bones,  which  this  vessel  atone 
time  doubtless  contained,  had  disappeared. 

Burial  No.  31,  Vessel  OO,  39  feet  E.  by  S.,  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type  with 
the  upper  portion  ploughed  away.  On  the  base  were  bones  in  powder  and  the 
lower  jaw  of  an  infant.  The  base  proper  showed  no  perforation,  but  on  one  side 
vertically  about  2  inches  above  the  base,  was  a  hole,  carefully  made,  somewhat  over 
I  inch  in  diameter.  This  is  a  departure  from  the  general  rule. 

Burial  No.  32,  40  feet  S.  by  E.,  in  all   probability  the  skeleton  of  a  female. 
The  glabella  was  practically  wanting  and  the  supra-orbital  ridges  were  but  slightly 
developed.     The  general    frame,   however,    indicated   a   fairly    muscular    person— 
probably  a  powerful  female.     A  number  of  small  shell  beads,  one  shell  pin,  and  part 
of  another,  lay  near  the  head. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.     !)9 

Burial  No.  33,  3(5  feet  S.  E.  by  S.,  13  inches  down,  skeleton  of  adolescent, 
Hexed  on  right  side,  head  S.  S.  W. 

Burial  No.  34,  38  feet  S.  E.  by  E.,  human  bones  disturbed  bv  plow. 

Burial  No.  30,  37  feet  S.  E.  by  S.,  '2  feet  11  inches  down,  skeleton  of  adolescent, 
flexed  on  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  3(5.  43  feet  S.  K..  at  the  bottom  of  a  distinct  pit,  '2  feet  0  inches 
from  the  surface,  were  the  remains  of  a  skeleton  too  much  decayed  for  determination. 

Burial  No.  37.  ~>4  feet  S.  S.  E.,  20  inches  down,  skeleton  of  a  dog. 

An  interesting  feature  in  Mound  A  was  the  discovery  of  portions  of  a  vessel 
of  red  ware  (if  aboriginal  type  and  decoration,  interiorly  glazed  in  places.  Earthen 
ware  regularly  glazed  would  indicate  European  contact.  Professor  Putnam  writes 
as  follows  of  these  fragments  : 

"After  consultation  with  Professors  Jackson  and  Hill  of  the  Chemical  Depart 
ment  [Harvard],  I  am  more  than  ever  convinced  that  the  glazing  on  a  portion  of 
the  jar  from  the  Georgia  mound  is  entirely  accidental.  When  you  come  to  study 
the  pieces  you  will  find  that  the  whole  interior  of  the  jar  has  apparently  been  coated 
with  ashes  mixed  with  water.  Now  suppose  such  a  jar  was  heated  on  the  inside  by 
putting  in  hot  coals  of  wood  ;  the  potash  in  the  coating  of  ashes  and  the  potash 
contained  in  the  wood,  mixed  with  the  slight  silicious  matter  in  the  clay,  would 
make  an  accidental  gla/.ing. 

'•  It  does  not  seem  possible  that  this  glazing  is  formed  by  lead  or  salt,  for  the 
slight  burning  of  the  pottery  is  not  sufficient  to  form  a  gla/.ing  of  either  of  these 
substances;  much  more  heat  would  be  required. 

"  Professors  Jackson  and  Hill  wen-  sure  that  it  would  be  useless  to  analyze  the 
glazing,  as  we  should  have  to  scrape  oft'  nearly  all  there  is  to  get  enough  to  make 
a  good  analysis,  and  we  should  probably  get  only  negative  results.  1  therefore 
consider  that  this  was  simply  an  accidental  case  of  partial  glazing  caused  by  some 
special  burning  of  the  pottery.  The  fact  that  the  glazing  is  confined  to  one  portion 
of  the  lip  of  the  jar  and  to  a  part  just  below  the  lip  on  the  bulge  indicates  that  the 
hot  coals  were  in  contact  with  that  portion  only.  If  the  jar  was  inverted  over  hot 
coals  for  the  purpose  of  heating  the  inside  (as  was  evidently  common  in  ancient 
times),  it  might  easily  have  fallen  over  in  the  fire  and  the  coals  have  tumbled  into 
this  portion  of  the  jar." 

The  various  forms  of  burial  and  their  distribution  in  Mound  A  an-  worthy  of 
attention.  It  will  be  noticed  that  in  no  part  of  the  mound,  outside  of  calcined 
remains,  among  which  were  parts  of  adult  skeletons  seemingly  belonging  to  males, 
were  skeletal  remains  of  adult  males — the  skeletons  being  exclusively  those  of 
women,  adolescents,  children  and  infants — and  that  in  one  portion  of  the  mound  burial 
vases  exclusively  contained  skeletons  of  infants,  unaffected  by  fire,  while  in  other 
portions  cinerary  urns  were  present  filled  with  fragments  of  calcined  human 
skeletons.  Again  we  see  pockets  of  calcined  human  remains  and  skeletal  remains 
of  woman  and  of  children  unaffected  by  fire  and  not  included  in  vessels  of 
earthenware. 


w 


100  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 


'         XXX 


•-•% 

» 
ft 


33( 


,f 


31 


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3 

A  ' 


8; 


,A 
B 


Sca/c  in  j-eet. 


Fig.  56.— Plan  of  Mound  B. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GF,ORGIA  COAST.  101 

About  68  yards  in  a  N.  E.  direction  from  Mound  A  is  the  remnant  of  a  shell 
heap  nearly  all  of  which,  above  the  general  level,  has  been  carted  away  for  lime. 
A  small  portion  still  remaining  shows  the  height  of  the  heap  to  have  been  somewhat 
over  '2  feet.  The  diameter,  difficult  to  determine  at  present,  was  probably  about 
•"><)  feet. 

This  shell  heap  was  trenched  around  the  margin  and  in  several  directions 
toward  the  center.  No  human  remains  were  encountered  nor  any  indication  that 
the  heap  had  been  used  for  sepulchral  purposes.  Sherds  were  abundant.  One, 
with  an  average  diameter  of  4  inches,  showed  a  number  of  grooves  made  by 
sharpening  pointed  tools.  From  different  parts  of  the  mound  came  three  discs  of 
earthenware  cut  from  fragments  of  vessels,  each  about  1.5  inches  in  diameter. 

OSSABAW  ISLAND,  BRYAN  COUNTV.     MIDDLE  SETTLEMENT,    MOUND  B. 

This  mound,  in  a  cultivated  field,  lay  somewhat  over  one-half  mile  in  a  N.  E. 
direction  from  the  Middle  Settlement. 

Its  height  above  the  level  of  the  field  was  a  trifle  over  7-  feet,  and  a  measure 
ment  taken  from  the  surface  at  the  center  of  the  mound  to  the  base-line,  when  the 
mound  was  half  dug  through,  showed  a  corresponding  altitude.  The  diameter  of  the 
mound  at  the;  base,  we  took  to  be  about  40  feet,  but  as  portions  of  the  margin  were 
covered  with  a  thick  deposit  of  oyster  shells,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  in  places  the 
extreme  outlying  portions  escaped  us. 

The  mound,  covered  with  undergrowth  and  small  live-oaks,  showed  no  sign  of 
previous  investigation,  although  a  considerable  excavation  made  into  the  shells  of 
the  margin,  to  obtain  material  for  lime,  was  apparent. 


Fig.  .77. — Section  of  Mound  B 


The  mound,  with  the  exception  of  certain  marginal  portions,  was  dug  through 
as  shown  in  the  diagram  (Fig.  50)  at  a  level  much  below  that  of  the  sur 
rounding  field  that  no  grave  or  pit  might  pass  unnoticed.  At  the  level  of  the  field 
there  ran  through  the  mound  a  dark  layer,  AA  (see  section,  Fig.  57),  varying  from 
a  few  inches  to  one  foot  in  thickness,  composed  of  crushed  oyster  shells,  small  bits 
of  charcoal,  and  earth  blackened  by  admixture  of  organic  matter.  This  we  took  to 
be  the  original  surface  of  the  ground  upon  which  the  aborigines  were  living  previous 

13  JOURN.  A.  X.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


102  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

to  the  inception  of  the  mound.  Beneath,  and  sometimes  through,  this  layer  there 
ran  down  at  places  into  the  clear  yellow  sand,  masses  of  dark  disturbed  sand  filled 
with  organic  matter  and  bits  of  charcoal,  of  which  portions  of  the  mound  were 
composed.  These  evidently  had  been  pits,  and  while  the  purpose  of  those  containing 
human  remains  was  evident,  the  cause  for  the  digging  of  others  containing  no 
skeletal  remains  is  unexplained. 

Rising  from  the  base-line  at  BB  was  a  layer  of  oyster  shells  (CC)  varying  in 
thickness  from  2  or  3  inches  to  1  foot.  This  layer,  after  a  downward  slope, 
terminated  abruptly  at  DD,  when  within  4.5  feet  of  the  center  of  the  mound,  up 
to  which  point,  however,  it  had  been  a  continuous  layer.  The  shells  of  this  layer 
lay  loosely  together  and  were  not  crushed  and  packed,  leading  to  the  belief  that 
they  had  been  placed  there  intentionally  at  one  period  and  were  not  midden  refuse 
due  to  surface  habitation.  Beneath  this  layer  (CC)  the  sand  reaching  to  the  base 
line  was  of  a  yellow  color  much  resembling  that  below  the  base  though  it  contained 
in  addition  occasional  oyster  shells  and  particles  of  charcoal,  not  present  in  the 
sub-basal  sand.  Above  the  layer  CC,  and  dipping  to  the  base-line  between  the 
terminal  points  of  the  layer,  was  sand  of  a  dark  brown  color  extending  to  the 
superficial  layer  of  oyster  shells  (EE)  which  covered  the  entire  mound.  This  layer 
(EE)  varied  greatly  as  to  thickness,  at  some  places  disappearing  almost  entirely,  at 
others  attaining  a  thickness  of  from  1  to  2  feet.  It  was  filled  with  midden  refuse, 
bones  of  lower  animals,  sherds,  charcoal,  etc.,  and  was  unquestionably  a  gradual 
deposit  made  by  the  use  of  the  mound  as  a  dwelling  site.  Around  certain  portions 
of  the  margin  of  the  mound,  where  doubtless  the  shell  had  been  carried  and  thrown, 
the  deposits  had  a  thickness  of  almost  4  feet  and  extended  below  the  surface  of  the 
field,  which  we  accounted  for  under  the  hypothesis  that  sand  removed  for  the 
construction  of  the  mound  had  left  hollows  subsequently  filled  by  shell.  Above 
the  upper  layer  of  oyster  shells  was  a  deposit  of  black  surface  loam,  several  inches 
in  thickness.  The  pocket  of  shell  (F)  shown  in  the  diagram,  is  referred  to  in  our 
detailed  description  as  Burial  No.  37. 

From  a  careful  study  of  the  mound  it  was  suggested  to  us  that  its  original 
construction  had  been  a  circular  ridge  of  light  sand,  about  3  feet  in  height,  sloping 
up  on  all  sides  from  the  level  of  the  field,  and  enclosing  a  sort  of  basin,  and  that 
this  ridge  had  been  intentionally  coated  with  oyster  shells.  That  the  central  portion 
corresponding  to  the  area  between  the  terminal  points  of  the  stratum  (CC)  had  been 
subsequently  dug  out,  thus  accounting  for  the  abrupt  termination  of  the  shell 
stratum,  and  that  later  the  entire  ridge  and  basin  had  been  covered  with  sand, 
brown  in  color  or  made  so  through  percolation,  extending  on  all  sides  considerably 
beyond  the  surface  of  the  ridge,  and  that  the  mound  thus  formed  had  for  a  period 
been  used  as  a  place  of  abode.  The  reader,  however,  must  bear  in  mind  that 
conclusions  of  this  sort  are  by  no  means  final. 

Several  small  local  layers  of  hematite  were  present  near  the  base. 

Throughout  the  mound,  but  principally  in  the  midden  refuse,  were  fragments 
of  earthenware  vessels.  These,  with  several  exceptions  found  at  the  base,  were  of 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.  103 


gritty  ware,  while  all  were  either  uudecorated,  cord-marked,  basket-marked,  or 
.stamped  with  the  well-known  square  impression.  To  the  best  of  our  knowledge, 
none  bore  any  variety  of  the  complicated  stamped  decoration  present  in  the  low 
neighboring  mounds. 

In  various  parts  of  the  mound  were  pebbles  of  different  sizes,  and  from  the 
midden  re  I 'use  of  the  base,  unassociated,  came  a  bone  pin  Avith  incised  decoration 
around  the  head.  A  disc  of  earthenware,  irregularly  circular,  with  a  diameter  of 
about  3.5  inches  and  a  thickness  of  .5  of  1  inch,  lay  by  itself  7  feet  from  the  surface. 
This  disc  had  been  fashioned  and  baked  and  not  cut  from  part  of  a  vessel  as  were 
certain  earthenware  discs  present  in  other  mounds  of  the  coast.  Though,  owing  to 
the  considerable  quantity  of  oyster  shells  in  the  mound,  one  might  have  looked  for 
human  remains  in  a  fairly  good  state  of  preservation,  their  condition  was  not  such 
as  to  warrant  their  removal,  the  crania  in  particular  being  decayed  and  crushed. 
No  fractures  were  noticed  in  the  bones  or  any  pathological  condition  of  importance. 
We  shall  now  proceed  to  a  detailed  description  of  certain  features  present  in 
the  mound  and  of  the  interments.  Unless  otherwise  stated,  depths  of  skeletons 
are  given  from  the  surface  to  the  uppermost  portion  of  the  skeleton,  a  measurement 
of  which  we  disapprove,  preferring  the  vertical  distance  to  the  plane  upon  which 
the  remains  were  deposited,  a  method  which  we  have  followed  in  most  of  our  other 
descriptions  in  this  Report. 

1. — 34  feet  E.  from  center,  0  inches  from  the  surface,  in  the  shell  debris,  which 
at  that  part  covered  the  slope  of  the  mound  to  a  considerable  depth,  were  the  skull 
of  an  adult,  part  of  a  clavicle,  and  portions  of  a  pelvis  and  of  a  humerus. 

2. — 24  feet  E.  by  S.,  just  below  the  surface,  in  the  shell,  were  a  portion  of  a 
femur  and  two  fragments  of  smaller  long  bones.  With  these  was  a  bit  of  chert, 

while  near  by,  though  perhaps  having  no  con 
nection  with  them,  lay  a  tobacco  pipe  of  soap- 
stone,  absolutely  intact,  still  bearing  marks  of 
the  maker's  tools  (Fig.  58). 

3.—1S  ieet  W.  of  S.,  bunched  burial  of  adult 
male,  22  inches  from  the  surface. 

4. — 1.5  feet  W.  of  No.  3,  bunched  burial  of 
adult  male,  3.5  feet  down. 

5.— 35  feet  E.  by  N.,  3.5  feet  down,  just 
beneath  the  marginal  shell  layer,  were  a  frag 
ment  of  scapula  and  six  phalanges  scattered  over 
a  small  area.  The  mound  had  suffered  no  dis 
turbance  at  this  point. 

6. — 24  feet  S.  E.,  a  grave  dug  through  the 
superficial  shell  layer  into  the  yellow  sand  of 
Fig.  oa-Tobacoo  pipe  of  soapstone.   Mound      of  ti10  ^j  at  ;l  ,)Omt  where  the  upward  slope 

B.     (Full  size.)  .  L  l 

had  just  begun.     From  the  surface  of  the  shell 
layer  to  the  bottom  of  the  grave-pit  was  4  feet.     The  pit  proper,  whose  depth  was 


104  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

23  inches,  was  filled  with  brown  sand  mixed  with  oyster  shells  showing  that  at 
least  a  certain  portion  of  the  superficial  shell  deposit  was  present  when  it  was  dug. 
Above  the  pit  were  17  inches  of  shell  deposit  surmounted  by  8  inches  of  black 
surface  loam.  At  the  bottom  of  the  grave  was  a  bunched  burial  of  an  adult, 
probably  female. 

X. — 35  feet  E.  by  N.,  a  fireplace  2  feet  4  inches  down. 

XX. — 18  feet  S.,  a  fireplace  10  inches  from  surface — a  narrow  band  of  charcoal 
G  feet  in  length. 

7. — 19  feet  S.  by  W..  2  feet  from  surface,  skeleton  in  anatomical  order,  probably 
female,  head  S.,  body  on  right  side  and  badly  twisted,  knees  drawn  up  toward  side 
of  head,  legs  flexed  on  thighs,  left  arm  over  head,  right  arm  down  along  body  with 
forearm  flexed  upward.  With  this  skeleton  was  a  bit  of  chert.  The  black  base- 
layer  at  this  point  was  5  inches  thick  and  3  feet  3  inches  from  the  surface. 

8. — 17  feet  S.  by  E.,  2  feet  down,  below  the  unbroken  surface  of  loam  and  of 
oyster  shells  was  a  portion  of  a  flexed  skeleton,  the  skull,  with  the  exception  of 
hall'  of  the  mandible,  being  absent.  Upper  part  of  trunk  to  the  east  on  left  side. 
Upper  portion  of  each  humerus  absent,  but  remaining  portions  of  upper  extremities 
in  anatomical  order  and  in  proper  relation  to  remainder  of  skeleton  present. 
Fragments  of  clavicle  and  ribs  in  sand  near  upper  part  of  trunk.  Vertebra  of 
trunk  in  order,  also  pelvis  and  hones  of  lower  extremities,  with  exception  of  parts 
adjacent  to,  and  comprising,  knees,  which  were  absent.  About  1.5  feet  distant  were 
half  of  a  lower  jaw.  a  piece  of  a  rib,  and  of  a  clavicle,  doubtless  belonging  to  the 
skeleton  which  had  been  dug  through  at  a  period  prior  to  the  formation  of  the  shell 
deposit  for  the  burial  of  No.  9. 

9. — 1  foot  immediately  below  No.  8  was  a  bunched  burial  of  an  adolescent, 
lying  on  the  black  base-line. 

V. — 27  feet  E.,  a  layer  of  sand,  cherry  colored  through  admixture  with  hematite, 
3  feet  10  inches  from  the  surface.  This  layer  was  about  3  inches  above  the  black 
band  marking  the  basu  of  the  mound,  was  from  .5  of  1  inch  to  1  inch  in  thickness, 
had  a  length  of  1  foot  10  inches,  and  extended  inward  2  feet. 

10. — 16  feet  S.  E.,  10  inches  down,  lower  extremities  flexed  in  amatomical 
order,  part  of  one  humerus  and  two-thirds  of  the  bones  of  its  lower  arm.  All  other 
portions  of  the  skeleton  absent,  doubtless  a  comparatively  recent  disturbance. 

/. — 19  feet  E.  S.  ?].,  3.5  feet  down,  just  below  the  black  base-line,  was  a  nest 
of  fragments  of  various  vessels,  filling,  a  little  pocket. 

11. — 18  feet  E.  by  S.,  2  feet  from  surface,  lying  on  the  black  base-line,  with 
surface  layer  of  oyster  shells  unbroken,  was  a  skeleton  of  a  female  in  a  sitting 
position,  facing  S.  of  E.  The  head  was  forced  down  between  the  thighs  and  legs 
as  shown  in  Fig.  59.  Behind  the  skeleton  was  a  marine  mussel  shell  filled  witli 
powdered  hematite. 

12. — 15  feet  S.  S.  E..  bones  probably  belonging  to  a  female,  in  caved  sand. 

13. — 10  feet  E.  by  S.,  a  grave  containing  an  adult  skeleton  of  uncertain  sex,  in 
a  crouching  position,  trunk  bending  forward  on  thighs,  and  supported  by  the  lower 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST,   lor, 


Fig.  r>!).— Burial  No.  11.     Mound  B.     (Not  on  scale.) 


extremities  of  legs  and  heels.  Above  the  bones  were  18  inches,  vertically,  of  oyster 
•shells  and  around  them  25  inches,  vertically,  of  brown  sand  mingled  with  ovster 
shells. 

14. — M  (•,.,.(  s.  K..  a  grave  extending  through   the  black  line  of  the  base  and 

filled  with  brown  sand.  Surface  to  bottom 
of  grave,  7  feet;  to  bones,  G  feet;  to  broken 
line  of  base,  4  feet ;  diameter  of  grave,  4  feet. 
A  flexed  burial  on  left  side,  head  N.  E.,  as 
nearly  as  could  be  determined.  Unusual 
decay.  Sex  undetermined. 

1  :,._1 :;.  5  feet  S.  E.,  flexed  skeleton  of 
male  on  right  side,  0  inches  from  surface, 
head  S. 

lli. — 12  feet  S.,  just  below  the  upper 
layer  of  oyster  shells  and  immediately  above 
the  second  layer  to  which  reference  has  been 
made,  2  feet  from  the  surface,  were  the  crushed 
bones  of  an  infant.  With  them  were  an  imperforate,  undecorated  vessel  of  about 
one  pint  capacity,  having  a  portion  missing  from  the  side  and  rim  (A),  and  an 
undecorated  imperforate  cup  (B).  elongated  at  one  end  and  terminating  in  an 
extension  for  a  handle,  resembling  in  shape1  and  size  a  type  found  in  Florida.  Its 
capacity  is  somewhat  less  than  one  pint. 

17. — 20  feet  E.  by  S.,  a  grave  having  its  base  5  feet  4  inches  from  the  surface 
and  extending  1  foot  4  inches  into  undisturbed  sand  below  the  base.  The  mouth 
of  this  grave  was  impossible  to  determine.  The  superficial  shell  layer  above  it  was 
intact  and  there  was  no  unusual  admixture  of  oyster  shells.  It  was  therefore  of  a 
period  prior  to  the  making  of  the  shell  layer.  At  base  of  grave  was  the  skeleton 
of  a  male,  head  N.,  flexed,  with  body  facing  down.  Thighs  flexed  up  along  body 
with  legs  flexed  back  upon  them.  Right  elbow  in  toward  body  ;  left,  somewhat 
extended. 

18. — 23  feet  E.,  a  grave,  from  surface  to  bones,  5  feet  4  inches;  to  bottom  of 
grave,  I)  feet  o  inches ;  depth  below  broken  base  of  mound,  2  feet  ^5  inches. 
Thickness  of  unbroken  surface  layer  of  shell  at  this  point.  2  feet.  In  the  grave, 
in  a  semi-sitting  position,  facing  S.  W.,  was  the  skeleton  of  an  adult  male  with  right 
arm  extended  from  the  side  ;  left  arm  along  side,  forearm  crossing  body.  Right 
thigh,  with  leg  flexed  against  it.  at  right  angle  to  body ;  left  thigh,  with  leg 
bent  against  it,  flexed  upon  body. 

19. — 17  feet  E.  of  S.,  skeleton  of  male  in  sitting  position,  head  S.  and  pressed 
forward,  chin  on  chest.  Thighs  at  right  angle  to  body,  with  legs  flexed  back 
parallel  to  them.  Feet  against  pelvis.  Right  arm  along  chest,  forearm  across  body  ; 
left  arm  out  from  side  with  forearm  crooked  from  body.  This  skeleton  lay  in  a 
pocket  filled  with  oyster  shells,  15  inches  down. 

.     20. — 1  foot  S.  of  No.  ID,  upper  portion  of  skeleton  of  male,  about  1  foot  below 


106  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

the  surface,  head  S.     Trunk  above  pelvis  and  cranium  alone  remained,  the  rest 
having  been  cut  away  by  Burial  No.  19. 

21. — A  burial,  3  feet  below  No.  20,  lying  on  the  black  basal  layer,  was  much 
massed  together,  the  greater  part  of  the  bones  being  in  anatomical  order,  others, 
however,  being  out  of  place.  An  astragalus  and  its  os  calcis,  separated,  lay  on  the 
skull.  The  left  humerus  was  across  the  skull  with  no  forearm  bones  in  connection. 
The  mandible  was  separated  from  the  cranium.  This  burial  (sex  not  determined) 
had  evidently  been  partially  held  together  by  ligaments  when,  after  previous 
exposure,  it  was  interred  in  the  mound. 

22. — 12  feet  E.  by  S.,  crushed  skeletons  of  three  children  with  shell  beads  and 
a  few  small  shells  (Olivella]  longitudinally  perforated.  The  remains  lay  in  the 
surface  shell  layer  1  foot  down. 

23. — 19  feet  N.  of  E.,  3  feet  down  on  the  black  base-layer,  a  skeleton  of  a  male 
in  the  position  of  one  who,  crouching,  had  fallen  forward.  Right  arm  along  side, 
forearm  across  and  under  body ;  left  arm  along  side,  forearm  extending  from  body. 
Thighs  flexed  sharply  along  side  of  trunk,  with  legs  flexed  back  along  thighs, 
throwing  feet  under  pelvis. 

C. — 1  foot  N.  of  No.  23,  on  same  level  was  a  large  portion  of  a  cord-marked 
bowl  filled  with  black  loam  many  shades  darker  than  the  surrounding  black  sand, 
and  containing  the  bottom  of  a  vessel  stamped  in  small  squares.  This  base  had  a 
sort  of  projection  at  one  end,  possibly  made  intentionally  and  may  have  served  as 
a  dish. 

24. — 21  feet  N.  of  E.,  skeleton  of  adult  male,  3  feet  from  surface,  practically 
in  the  same  position  as  No.  23,  head  S.  E.,  3  feet  from  surface. 

25. — 23  feet  N.  E.,  a  grave  filled  with  oyster  shells,  running  through  the  brown 
sand  to  base  of  mound,  a  vertical  distance  of  3  feet.  This  grave  may  have  been 
dug  while  the  shell  layer  was  in  process  of  formation.  The  surface  showed  no 
depression.  Resting  on  the  base  of  the  grave  was  the  skeleton  of  an  adult  male,  in 
a  sitting  position,  facing  N.  E. 

26. — A  grave  23  feet  N.  E.,  4  feet  in  depth  from  the  surface  and  2  feet  6  inches 
from  the  bottom  of  the  shell  layer.  The  grave  went  through  and  extended  beyond 
the  black  line  of  the  base,  a  distance  of  14  inches.  On  the  bottom  was  a  skeleton 
of  uncertain  sex,  head  N.,  an  ordinary  flexed  burial. 

27. — 19  feet  N.  by  W.,  a  grave  two  feet  across.  Surface  of  mound  to  bottom 
of  grave  which  extended  10  inches  below  the  base  line,  4  feet  9  inches.  This  grave, 
filled  with  brown  sand  without  oyster  shells,  contained  skeleton,  probably  female  of 
about  20  years  of  age,  in  a  sitting  position,  facing  S.  W. 

28. — 6  feet  S.  of  E.,  skeleton  of  uncertain  sex,  1  foot  down  in  shell,  head  N. 
A  portion  of  this  skeleton  fell  in  caved  sand. 

29. — 22  feet  E.  by  N.,  skeleton  of  female,  head  N.;  an  ordinary  flexed  burial, 
4  feet  beneath  surface  on  the  base  of  a  grave  composed  of  dark  brown  sand,  which 
ran  into  the  yellow  sand  9  inches  below  the  bottom  of  the  black  base  layer,  which, 
at  this  place,  was  9  inches  thick. 

30. — 17  feet  PI,  a  skeleton  of  an  adult  male,  3  feet  from  the  surface,  on  back, 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.   107 


head  N.,  arms  along  side,  forearms  across  body,  thighs  flexed  up  to  right,  legs  parallel 
to  thighs.  In  association  were  a  core  of  chert,  and  part  of  a  Fulgur*  filled  with 
sand  dyed  a  bright  red  with  hematite. 

•51. — 3  feet  S.  K,  I  foot  down,  in  shell,  flexed  skeleton  of  a  male  on  back, 
head  W. 

32. — 17  feet  N.  of  K.,  2  feet  3  inches  down,  skeleton  of  adult  male,  seated, 
leaning  back,  head  lacing  W.  and  forced  over  on  chest,  legs  drawn  up.  right  humerus 
extended  from  side  at  right  angles  to  body,  forearm  Hexed  and  parallel  to  side  of 
body,  left  humerus  against  body  with  forearm  across  trunk. 

33. — 10  feet  E.,  9  inches  down,  2  skeletons  :  female  below,  on  face,  head  S.  ; 
male  on  plane  above.  Caving  sand  interfered  with  detailed  examination.  Beneath 
these  skeletons,  which  were  covered  by  an  unbroken  layer  of  shell,  was  the  skeleton 
of  a  dog.  Not  far  distant  from  No.  33,  was  a  layer  of  charcoal  and  oyster  shells 
showing  marks  of  fire,  4  to  5  inches  in  thickness,  covered  by  fragments  of  calcined 
human  bones.  This  layer,  28  inches  in  length,  caved  previous  to  a  complete 
examination. 

34. — 18  feet  S.  S.  AV.,  2  feet  down,  skeleton  of  youth  facing  S.  S.  W.,  in  a 
kneeling  position,  leaning  forward. 

35. — 25  feet  E.  by  N.,  2  feet  9  inches  down,  skeleton  of  female, 
on  face,  head  E.,  thighs  turned  to  left  side,  projecting  from  body,  legs 
flexed  sharply  on  thighs,  right  arm  along  body,  forearm  crossed  on 
body,  left  arm  extended  out,  running  between  thighs. 

3(>. — A  grave,  17  feet  E.  by  N.,  10  inches  below  upper  margin 
of  base-line,  at  that  point  about  9  inches  thick.  Surface  to  skeleton, 
5  feet.  Skeleton  of  male  on  back,  head  W.,  arms  akimbo,  the  thighs 
flexed  to  right  angle  to  body  and  turned  to  right,  legs  sharply  flexed 
back  on  thighs. 

37. — A  grave  at  center  of  mound  having  the  shape  of  an  inverted 
cone  with  rounded  apex,  4  feet  in  height.  Diameter  of  opening  9 
feet.  At  the  bottom  a  layer  of  calcined  human  bones  having  a 
maximum  thickness  of  1  foot  G  inches.  Among  the  calcined  bones 
wei'e  a  great  number  of  shell  beads  of  various  sizes  and  shapes  and  a 
curious  pendant  of  shell  (Fig.  GO),  which,  unlike  the  beads,  showed 
exposure  to  fire.  In  addition,  were  many  imperforate  teeth  of  a  dog 
or  of  a  wolf  and  a  number  of  human  phalanges  unaffected  by  fire. 
This  grave  Avas  filled  with  oyster  shells  and  it  was  impossible  to  say 
at  what  stage  of  the  shell  deposit  above  it  was  constructed.  It  is 
shown  on  the  cross  section. 

38. — At  the  center  of  the  mound,  1  foot  8  inches  down,  in  the 
shell  covering  grave  37,  was  the  skeleton  of  an  adult  male  disarranged 
by  caving  of  surrounding  oyster  shells. 

39. — 25  feet  E.  by  N.,  4  feet  8  inches  down,  in  a  semi-sitting  position  much 
resembling  that  of  skeleton  No.  11.  was  a  male  skeleton  facing  S  With  it 
were  :  a  cannon  bone  of  a  deer ;  a  bit  of  chert ;  a  few  shell  beads ;  a  portion  of  a 


Fig.  60.— Peiulaut 
of  shell.  Mull  ml 
B.  (Full  size.) 


108  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 


pebble  and  a  tooth  of  a  fossil  shark,  4.25  inches  in  length  with  portions  cut  from 
either  side  of  the  base  for  convenience  in  hafting  (Fig.  61).  Portions  were  split 
from  either  side  of  the  point  showing  hard  usage.  We  have  before  met  with 
large  fossil  teeth  of  sharks  in  mounds  of  Florida  and  of  Georgia,  but  none 
bore  marks  of  service  or  of  workmanship  of  any  kind.  We  have  seen  also  small 
teeth  of  fossil  sharks,  which  came  from  mounds  of  the  St.  Johns  River,  Florida. 

These  teeth  had  a  perforation  at  the  base 
and  were  used  either  as  pendants  or  as 
knives,  like  sharks  teeth  of  the  present 
geological  period — found  by  Mr.  Gushing 
during  his  recent  investigations — which 
were  pierced  and  fastened  to  small 
handles. 

40. — 22  feet  N.  E.,  a  grave,  in  which 
was  a  skeleton  sitting  in  about  the  same 
position  as  No.  lo,  facing  N.  E.  Right 
humerus  along  body,  right  forearm  flexed 
on  humerus,  left  humerus  along  body 
with  forearm  across  and  outside  of  legs. 
Back  of  the  skeleton,  on  the  pelvis,  with 
the  spinal  column  directly  in  front,  was  a 
cord-marked  bowl  or  a  large  part  of  one, 
crushed  to  fragments.  This  grave,  the 
bottom  of  which  was  4  feet  from  the 
surface,  extended  through  the  black  base- 
layer  of  the  mound,  there  8  inches  thick, 
and  continued  1  foot  beyond.  The  grave 
was  tilled  with  brown  sand  containing 
some  oyster  shells,  and  it  is  probable  that 
it  was  made  at  a  time  when  the  surface 
layer  of  oyster  shells  was  in  process  of 
formation. 

41. — 12  feet  S.  by  W.,  skeleton  of  male  on  left  side,  head  S.  Right  humerus 
across  body,  forearm  extended.  Left  humerus  under  body,  forearm  partly  Hexed. 
Thighs  flexed  on  body,  legs  back  and  parallel  to  thighs. 

42. — 22  feet  N.  by  E.,  3  feet  down,  skeleton  probably  male,  much  flexed  on 
right  side,  head  N.  W. 

43. — 18  feet  W.  by  S.,  4.5  feet  down  including  1  foot  o  inches  below  the  line 
of  the  base  of  the  mound,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  dog. 

44. — 11  feet  N.  E.,  G  feet  from  the  surface,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  woman,  lying 
on  back  in  an  unusually  extended  position  for  this  mound.  Head  S.  E.  Thighs  out 
from  body  and  raised  to  an  angle  of  45  degrees.  Legs  down  at  same  angle.  Right 
humerus  along  body,  forearm  across  trunk ;  left  humerus  and  forearm  parallel  with 
body.  This  skeleton  measured  3  feet  9  inches  as  it  lay. 


Fig.  61. — Tooth  of  fossil  shark,  used  as  an  implement. 
Mound  B.     (Full  size.) 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.  109 

45. — In  the  center  of  the  mound,  on  the  base,  was  a  fire  place  approximately 
3.0  feet  by  3  feet,  with  a  mass  of  calcined  human  bones  and  bones  unaffected  by 
fire,  having  an  average  thickness  of  about  7  inches.  Much  of  the  material,  at  least, 
had  not  been  calcined  on  the  spot,  as  bones  showing  no  trace  of  fire,  lying  on  the 
fire  place,  had  above  them  a  layer  of  calcined  fragments.  A  great  number  of  shell 
beads  showing  no  trace  of  fire  lay  scattered  through  the  remains.  Numerous  frag 
ments  of  earthenware  were  present. 

XXX. — A  little  W.  of  the  center  was  a  layer  of  calcined  earth  and  lime  pre 
sumably  from  oyster  shells,  showing  intense  and  prolonged  heat.  Its  length  was 
11  feet;  its  breadth  about  6  feet.  It  had  an  average  thickness  of  about  1  foot. 
This  curious  layer,  whose  upper  surface  was  6  feet  from  the  surface  of  the  mound, 
upon  careful  examination  seemed  not  to  have  been  subjected  to  fire  upon  the  spot, 
since  oyster  shells,  bits  of  deer  horn,  bones  of  lower  animals,  etc.,  showing  no  trace 
of  fire,  were  scattered  through  it. 

This  mound  differed  considerably  in  shape  and  in  contents  from  a  number  of 
neighboring  mounds  which  were  lower  and  which  contained  various  forms  of  urn- 
burial.  In  it  moreover,  as  we  have  stated,  earthenware  with  complicated,  stamped 
decoration  was  absent.  It  is  possible  that  Mound  B  was  of  a  different  period  from 
that  of  some  of  its  neighbors. 

OSSABAW  ISLAND,  BRYAN  COUNTY.      MIDDLE  SETTLEMENT,  MOUND  C. 

In  the  verge  of  the  woods  bordering  the  field  to  which  reference  has  been  made, 
about  300  yards  in  a  northerly  direction  from  Mound  B,  was  one  of  much  the  same 
type  as  Mound  B,  having  a  height  of  8  feet.  It  had  undergone  but  little  previous 
investigation.  The  center  of  the  mound,  a  peak  of  shell,  was  easily  discernible. 

The  diameter  of  the  mound  was  difficult  to  determine,  as  it  did  not  rise  directly 
from  a  general  level  but  in  a  series  of  irregular  slopes  caused  by  occupation  of  the 
surrounding  territory  as  a  dwelling  site,  resulting  in  a  deposit  of  oyster  shells  and 
debris.  Portions  of  the  outlying  territory  were  thickly  covered  with  oyster  shells 
while  other  parts,  consisting  of  dark  loamy  sand,  had  oyster  shells  and  sherds  to  a 
depth  of  several  feet. 

The  lower  portions  of  the  mound  had  been  under  cultivation  in  former  times 
as  deep  furrows  were  plainly  visible,  though  at  the  time  of  our  investigation  (1897) 
the  mound  was  thickly  covered  with  undergrowth  and  with  small  trees.  It  being 
impossible  to  determine  just  where  the  mound  proper  merged  with  midden  refuse,  a 
diameter  of  68  feet  was  selected,  which,  on  the  side  where  oyster  shells  were  absent, 
brought  the  circumference  somewhat  beyond  the  apparent  base  of  the  mound.  We 
are  of  opinion,  however,  that  in  the  case  of  this  mound,  certain  outlying  burials 
escaped  us. 

At  the  base  of  the  northern  portion  of  the  mound  was  a  thick  deposit  of  oyster 
shells  presumably  having  no  direct  connection  with  the  mound  but  thrown  there 
during  the  period  of  occupation  of  the  territory  as  a  dwelling  site.  Much  of  this 
was  not  included  in  our  investigation. 

14  JOUEN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


110  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

The  entire  northern  half  of  the  mound  was  dug  down  leaving  a  cross-section 
almost  E.  and  W.  Subsequently  the  central  portion  of  the  remaining  half  was 
dug  out.  The  remainder  of  the  mound  was  not  investigated. 

Upon  the  light  yellow  undisturbed  sand  beneath  the  mound,  but  below  the 
outer  portions  only,  was  a  dark  band,  averaging  1  foot  in  thickness,  composed  of 
black  loam,  fragments  of  oyster  shells  and  bits  of  charcoal.  Farther  in,  this  band 
was  replaced  by  a  layer  of  oyster  shells  from  6  inches  to  1  foot  in  thickness  which 
continued  through  the  mound.  This  black  band  and  shell  deposit  we  regarded  as 
marking  the  original  level  of  the  ground.  The  deposit  of  oyster  shells,  however, 
divided  in  places  and,  coming  together  again,  enclosed  masses  of  dark  yellow  sand, 
about  1  foot  in  thickness  and  8  to  4  feet  in  length.  Supposing  the  layer  of  shells 
to  be  the  base  line,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  presence  of  the  sand. 

While  the  height  of  the  mound  was  but  8  feet  above  the  immediately  surrounding 
level,  the  perpendicular  distance  from  its  apex  to  the  upper  margin  of  the  black 
band  was  10  feet.  This  apparent  discrepancy,  we  suppose,  may  be  accounted  for 
under  the  hypothesis  that  a  deposit  of  midden  refuse,  made  subsequent  to  the 
completion  of  the  mound,  had  surrounded  it  to  a  height  of  2  feet  and  over. 

The  body  of  the  mound  was  composed  of  yellow  sand  darkened  by  the  presence 
of  much  organic  matter.  This  sand  was  irregularly  streaked  in  places  and  contained 
here  and  there  local  layers  of  shell,  and  of  sand  reddened  with  admixture  of  the 
oxide  of  iron. 

Though  there  was  no  general  deposit  of  oyster  shells  covering  the  surface,  as 
was  the  case  with  Mound  B,  a  great  central  pit,  filled  with  oyster  shells  was  present 
with  an  out-cropping  through  the  immediately  central  parts  of  the  mound.  The 
dark  yellow  sand  of  the  body  of  the  mound  was  covered  with  an  irregular  layer  of 
rich  black  surface  loam. 

We  have  referred  to  a  deposit  of  shell  contiguous  to  the  mound.  This  deposit 
joined  the  mound  and  included  that  part  of  the  margin  lying  between  E.  by  N.  and 
N.  N.  E.,  and  had  a  breadth  of  27  feet  converging  from  a  small  beginning  at  either 
end  to  a  depth  of  7  feet  10  inches.  Four  and  one-half  feet  in  from  the  margin  of 
the  mound  as  taken  by  us,  the  deposit  had  a  breadth  of  12  feet,  and,  instead  of 
solid  shell,  as  before,  was  from  the  surface  down  : 

Shell  .     .     .     .     3  feet  7  inches  Dark  sand     ....     3  inches 

Brown  sand.      .      1  foot  2  inches  Light  brown  sand  .      .      6  inches 

Shell  ....     1  foot  6  inches  Undisturbed  sand. 

The  black  band,  to  which  we  have  referred,  cut  through  by  this  curious  com 
bination,  was  visible  at  either  side,  its  upper  margin  being  2  feet  6  inches  below  the 
surface.  The  deposit  disappeared  a  few  feet  farther  in  from  the  point  where  the 
measurement  was  taken. 

Sherds  were  of  frequent  occurrence.  With  the  exception  of  2  or  3  from  the 
immediate  surface,  all  were  undecorated  or  cord-marked — the  latter  predominating. 
The  reader  will  recall  that  in  Mound  B  also  no  ware  with  the  complicated  stamp 
was  discovered. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE    GEORGIA  COAST.  Ill 


Several  sherds  were  singly  or  doubly  grooved,  showing 
use  as  hones. 

One  fragment  of  earthenware  from  a  large  vessel  had  a 
thickness  of  .It  of  I  inch. 

An  imperforate  vessel  of  about  1  quart  capacity  with  a 
rough  checked-stamp  decoration  came  from  caved  sand. 

In  caved  sand  was  an  undecorated  vessel  in  shape  some 
what  like  a  modern  gravy-boat.  The  bottom  had  been  inten 
tionally  knocked  out.  Length,  7.3  inches;  width,  4.7  inches ; 
height,  3  inches. 

A  globular,  undecorated  vessel  lay  in  caved  sand.  Diam 
eter  at  mouth,  4.3  inches;  maximum  diameter,  5.5  inches; 
height,  4.3  inches. 

Two  bowls,  one  badly  crushed,  were  in  caved  sand. 

Throughout  the  mound  were  several  deposits  of  fragments 
of  pots,  placed  upon  each  other.      As  usual,  these  nests  were 
'^    II  composed  of  pieces  belonging  to  different  vessels. 

A  number  of  pebble-hammers  and  fragments  of  pebble- 
hammers  were  found  separately  in  midden  refuse  and  unasso- 
ciated  with  human  remains. 

From  the  basal  layer  came  a  silicified  astragalus  of  a  large 
mammal,  which  had  seemingly  been  in  use  as  a  hammer  as 
portions  from  one  end  were  split  off,  as  by  blows. 

Mostly  from  the  midden  refuse  came  numerous  fragments 
of  bone  pins,  while  at  a  considerable  depth  in  the  sand  was 
found  an  ulna  of  a  lower  animal,  fashioned  into  a  highly 
polished  piercing  implement  7.8  inches  in  length  (Fig.  (j'2). 

In  the  surface  loam  was  a  section  of  a  long  bone  .7  of  1 
inch  in  height,  with  diameters  of  .6  of  1  inch  and  .8  of  t  inch 
respectively.  On  either  side,  between  the  upper  and  lower 
margins  is  a  groove.  The  bone  is  polished,  and  at  one  place 
slightly  stained  with  copper.  This  object  may  be  of  a  period 
later  than  that  of  the  mound. 

Apparently  not  in  immediate  association  with  remains,  to 
gether,  were  ten  agricultural  implements  of  shell  (Fulgur  carica]. 

Though  human  remains  in  Mound  C  were,  as  a  rule, 
fairly  well  preserved,  no  unbroken  crania  were  met  with.  No 
evidence  of  disease  was  present  on  the  bones  and  but  one 
fracture  was  found,  that  of  an  ulna  which  had  united  with 
much  less  deformity  than  has  been  the  case  with  some  fractures 
we  have  met  with.  Though  careful  notes  of  all  burials  were 
Piercing  implement  taken,  yet,  owing  to  similarity  of  form  to  interments  in  Mound 
B,  we  deem  it  unnecessary  to  go  into  detail. 


M°und 


112  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

Mound  C,  like  Mound  B,  was  riddled  with  pits  in  which  la}-  a  majority  of  the 
skeletons.  Burials  were  noted  to  the  number  of  92,  though  this  figure  conveys  no 
idea  of  the  exact  number  of  individuals  represented,  since  at  times  only  portions  of 
the  skeleton  were  present,  while  on  the  other  hand,  several  skeletons,  buried  in 
conjunction,  have  been  included  as  one  interment,  Pockets  of  calcined  human 
bones  were  five  times  encountered,  two  being  met  with  south  of  the  cross-section 
while  digging  out  central  portions  of  the  mound. 

As  was  the  case  in  Mound  B,  no  urn-burials  of  any  sort  were  present. 

With  thirteen  burials  were  artifacts:  pierced  Olivella  shells;  bone  pins;  shell 
beads;  fresh-water  mussel  shells;  pebble-hammers;  sandstone  hone;  shell  drinking  cup; 
small  imperforate  bowl ;  two  conchs  (Fulgur  carica],  pierced  for  use  as  implements. 

Occupying  a  central  position  in  the  mound  was  a  pit,  roughly  circular,  clearly 
dug  down  from  the  surface  where  it  had  a  diameter  of  about  13  feet.  Eight  feet 
below  the  surface  it  had  converged  to  a  base  about  3  feet  across.  The  pit  had  been 
filled  with  sand  mingled  with  midden  refuse  and  had  been  capped  with  a  solid 


Fig.  fi;{. — Section  of  central  pit.     Mound  C. 

deposit  of  oyster  shells  having  a  maximum  thickness  of  2.5  feet.  The  upper  eastern 
portion  of  the  pit  had  been  cut  through  by  a  grave  (see  diagram  of  pit  Fig.  63),  and 
at  different  points  the  pit  itself  contained  skeletal  remains  placed  there  at  the  time 
of  the  filling.  On  the  bottom  of  this  pit  and  extending  up  on  the  sides,  was  an 
irregular  deposit  of  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones,  having  an  average  thick 
ness  of  about  5  inches  and  a  diameter  of  7  feet  measured  across  between  the 
margins  extending  upward  (Burial  82).  Mingled  with  the  calcined  fragments  was 
a  curious  medley  as  follows  :  a  great  number  of  shell  beads  of  various  shapes,  some 
tubular,  one  having  a  length  of  about  3  inches,  mostly  unaffected  by  fire  but  some 
showing  calcination  ;  8  pearls,  pierced,  one  showing  traces  of  fire  ;  8  chert  spalls 
together ;  14  chips  of  chert  together ;  53  quartz  pebbles,  intimately  associated,  each 
about  the  size  of  a  pea ;  great  numbers  of  sherds,  including  one  circular  in  shape, 
with  a  central  perforation  ;  a  considerable  number  of  bone  pins,  one  7.5  inches  long 
with  a  perforation  (Fig.  G4).  In  addition  to  this  diverse  collection  was  the  body  of 
the  lower  jaw  of  some  carnivore,  and  parts  of  other  jaws,  with  the  lower  portions 
ground  away  as  we  have  described  in  the  account  of  the  mound  at  Greenseed  Field. 


I 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.  11-5 
OSSABAW  LSLAXD,  BKVAX  COUNTY.      MIDDLE  SETTLEMEXT,  Morxn  I). 

This  mound,  in  the  same  cultivated  field  as  Mound  Band  distant 
from  it  about  two  hundred  yards  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  had  a 
height  at  the  time  of  our  visit  (December,  1890)  of  :>  feet  9  inches. 
It  was  evident  from  the  appearance  of  the  mound  that  long  cultiva 
tion  had  materially  decreased  the  height  of  central  portions,  carrying 
down  the  material  to  its  marginal  parts.  As  the  beginning  of  the 
slope  is  no  sure  indication  of  boundary  among  the  low  mounds  of  the 
sea-islands  of  Georgia,  especially  those  long  subject  to  the  plow,  pits 
were  dug  and  tentative  trenches  run  in  from  a  considerable  distance 
out,  in  a  vain  endeavor  to  locate  the  presence  of  that  dark  layer 
corresponding  to  the  original  surface,  so  frequently  present.  Finally, 
taking  a  certain  thickening  of  the  surface  soil  as  an  indication,  a 
circle  with  a  diameter  of  82  feet  was  drawn ;  the  highest  portion  of 
the  mound,  a  peak  of  shell,  forming  the  center. 

The  mound  was  sliced  down  with  the  utmost  care,  those  digging, 
where  it  seemed  necessary,  going  as  much  as  8  feet  below  its  surface. 
Of  the  many  mounds  it  has  been  our  fortune  to  investigate,  none  has 
offered  more  difficulty  in  the  description  of  the  limits  of  its  component 
parts.  The  undisturbed  sub-sand  was  light  yellow,  at  times  almost 
white.  Above  this  came  darker  yellow  sand  somewhat  discolored  by 
the  presence  of  organic  matter  and  showing  a  certain  amount  of 
disturbance  discernible  by  the  presence  of  streaks,  bits  of  charcoal, 
etc.,  but  no  distinct  dark  line  marking  the  base  was  anywhere 
apparent.  Over  this  layer  came  a  final  one  of  dark  brown  sand, 
which,  like  the  disturbed  yellowr  layer,  locally  varied  in  thickness  so 
that  no  general  data  were  obtainable.  Moreover,  the  dark  brown 
layer  and  the  yellow  layer  below  it,  so  merged  together  that  a  line  of 
division  was  indistinguishable  even  to  the  most  careful  and  most 
experienced  observers.  At  the  central  portion  of  the  mound  was  a 
layer  of  shell  at  first  beneath  the  surface  and  having  at  the  beginning 
but  the  thickness  of  a  single  shell,  increasing  gradually  toward  the 
center  and  merging  with  a  second  layer  of  shell  which  made  its 
appearance  several  feet  farther  in.  all  around,  until,  at  the  immediate 
center  of  the  mound,  it  appeared  at  the  surface  and  extended  to  a 
considerable  depth  below  the  base,  forming  the  great  shell  pit  shown 
in  the  cross-section  (Fig.  65).  This  shell  layer  had  probably  an 
average  diameter  of  30  feet.  The  portion  exposed  at  the  surface  was 
about  15  feet  in  diameter  as  shown  in  the  cross-section.  The  shells 
comprising  these  layers,  while  mainly  of  the  oyster,  included  also 
those  of  the  clam,  the  conch  (Fidgur],  various  marine  mussels,  the 
"cockle"  (Cardiunt)  and  numerous  smaller  salt  water  shell-fish. 


114  CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE  GEORGIA  COAST. 

The  mound,  as  the  detailed  description  will  show,  was  riddled  with  pits,  the 
lower  parts  of  which  were  clearly  distinguishable  when  extending  into  undisturbed 
sand.  The  parts  of  the  pits  in  the  body  of  the  mound,  having  been  filled  with  the 
sand  removed  during  their  excavation,  resembled  so  closely  the  sand  surrounding 
them,  that  the  exact  limits  were  impossible  to  define.  These  pits,  it  was  quite 
evident,  were  of  the  period  of  the  mound,  many  showing  no  admixture  with  the 
dark  sand  of  the  upper  layer  or  of  shell,  though  a  layer  or  layers  of  shell  often  lay 
above  them.  Some,  however,  showed  dark  sand  in  places,  but  these  also  at  times 
were  underneath  undisturbed  shell  and  were  doubtless  made  prior  to  the  completion 
of  the  mound.  In  almost  no  case  could  we  distinguish  the  exact  beginning  of  a  pit. 

Skeletal  remains,  so  numerous  in  this  mound  (we  have  reference  to  those 
outside  the  mortuary  vessels),  were  in  a  fairly  good  state  of  preservation  compared 
to  many  we  have  encountered  elsewhere,  though  with  one  exception,  which  is 
particularly  noted  in  the  detailed  description,  no  crania  were  saved,  owing  to  their 
crushed  condition. 

In  following  the  detailed  description,  whose  numbering  corresponds  with  that 
of  the  diagram  (Fig.  60),  the  lay  reader  must  not  confuse  the  three  forms  of  urn- 


.£.45 


Fig.  <>5. — Section  of  central  portion  of  Mound  D.1 

burial  present  in  this  mound ;  namely,  skeletal  remains  of  infants,  unaffected  by 
fire ;  the  remains  of  single  individuals,  which  had  undergone  cremation,  and  urns 
filled  with  a  confused  mass  of  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones  belonging  to 
individuals  of  all  ages.  Where  fire  had  been  employed  it  is  distinctly  stated. 

Two  arrowheads  or  knives  of  chert,  several  bits  of  chert  and  pebble-hammers, 
some  fragmentary,  lay  loose  in  the  sand,  as  also  the  lower  part  of  a  broad  chisel  of 
ferruginous  shale,  having  a  thin  section  and  a  sharp  cutting  edge. 

Burial  No.  1,  a  pit,  or  grave,  located  24  feet  W.  by  N.  from  the  point  taken 
as  the  center  of  the  surface  of  the  mound,  as  are  all  other  similar  measurements  of 
superficial  distance  in  our  detailed  account,  was  in  a  portion  of  the  mound  where 
the  central  shell  layer  had  not  begun,  the  shell  layer  X  shown  in  the  diagram  and 
in  Fig.  67,  which  gives  an  accurate  idea  of  the  grave,  being  of  a  purely  local 
character.  In  the  bottom  of  this  grave,  which  extended  into  the  undisturbed 

1  The  "  yellow  sand  "  in  the  section  is  undisturbed  sand. 


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116  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

yellow  sand,  one  immediately  above  the  other,  were  the  skeletons  of  two  males, 
similarly  interred,  heads  N.,  flexed  on  right  side.  With  one  was  an  undecorated 
bone  pin  or  piercing  implement  which  fell  to  pieces  during  removal. 

X. — A  local  shell  layer  extending  above  these  burials.  It  began  84  feet  a 
little  N.  of  W.  and  extended  inward  13  feet.  Its  thickness  at  the  outside  margin 
was  2  feet  (all  such  measurements  are  approximate)  increasing  to  28  inches  above 
the  grave  from  where  it  tapered  sharply  to  2.5  inches  at  its  inner  limit. 

Burial  No.  2,  Vessel  Aa,  24  feet  E.  by  S.,  a  practically  intact  vessel  of  the 
common  type,  with  base  perforation,  upright  as  usual.  Its  base  was  12  inches  above 
the  undisturbed  yellow  sand  which,  at  this  point,  was  3  feet  4  inches  from  the 
surface.  The  height  of  the  vessel  is  16  inches,  its  upper  margin  therefore  was  1 
foot  from  the  surface. 


JL 


-Darh  Sand 


Barlt  sc 


Fig.  67. — Section  of  grave  1.     Mound  D. 

About  half-way  down,  inside  of  Aa,  was  an  inverted,  imperforate  bowl  of  black 
ware  having  stamped  complicated  decoration  (Ab).  Portions  of  the  rim  were  broken 
and  missing.  On  the  bottom  of  Aa,  were  the  skull  of  an  infant  in  fragments  and 
other  bones,  including  several  ribs.  These  vessels  were  sent  to  the  National 
Museum,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Burial  No.  3,  upon  a  local  shell  layer  (XX)  30  feet  S.  by  E.,  22  inches  down, 
was  the  flexed  skeleton  of  a  child  just  starting  on  its  second  dentition.  Head  S. 

XX. — A  shell  layer  beginning  immediately  under  No.  2,  extending  inward  6 
feet  10  inches.  Breadth  at  outer  margin,  4  feet,  3  feet  at  termination ;  1  foot  8 
inches  thick  at  the  beginning,  decreasing  to  6  inches,  increasing  to  1  foot  and  then 
tapering  away. 

Vessel  B,  35  feet  S.  E.,  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  14  inches  in  height,  rest 
ing  on  undisturbed  yellow  sand  2  feet  10  inches  from  the  surface.  The  base  had  a 
portion  intentionally  knocked  out.  The  entire  side  was  crushed  in  and  broken 
into  small  fragments.  Over  the  opening  had  been  placed  several  large  pieces  of 
earthenware,  but  with  that  lack  of  care  distinguishing  the  makers  of  the  mounds  at 
Ossabaw  from  those  of  the  Walker  mound,  these  pieces  had  been  allowed  to  slide 
over  somewhat  during  the  filling  in  of  the  pit,  thus  permitting  the  entrance  of 
sand.  No  bones  were  noted  in  this  vessel,  but  beyond  question  the  remains  of  an 
infant  had  disappeared  through  decay. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.  117 

Vessel  C,  36  feet  S.  E.,  a  layer  of  fragments  of  earthenware  vessels,  22  inches 
by  3  feet  8  inches,  18  inches  below  the  surface.  It  was  made  up  of  overlapping 
sherds  of  large  size,  at  times  single,  and  again  double,  and  not  of  several  vessels 
placed  on  their  sides  and  crushed  by  the  weight  of  sand,  since  cord-marked  pottery 
lay  with  that  having  the  complicated  stamp,  and  when  a  fragment  was  imposed 
upon  another,  it  often  occurred  that  the  convex  portion  of  an  upper  sherd  h'tted  into 
the  concave  portion  of  a  lower,  which  could  not  be  the  case  were  two  sides  of  a 
previously  entire  vessel  brought  into  apposition  through  breakage.  No  remains  or 
artifacts  lay  in  the  neighborhood  of  this  layer. 

Vessel  D,  33  feet  S.  E.,  the  lower  portion  of  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  with 
perforated  base,  having  the  rim  and  upper  part  of  the  body  crushed  into  small 
fragments.  The  vessel  had  been  let  down  somewhat  into  the  undisturbed  yellow 
sand.  From  base  of  vessel  to  surface,  3  feet. 

Burial  No.  4,  33  feet  S.  W.,  portions  of  a  skeleton  with  unattached  epiphyses, 
partly  in  anatomical  order,  3  feet  9  inches  from  the  surface,  below  a  local  shell 
layer.  A  considerable  portion  of  this  skeleton  was  missing,  presumably  through 
a  later  burial  (No.  11)  placed  below  it,  which  was,  however,  aboriginal  and  con 
temporary  with  the  mound,  as  shown  by  the  undisturbed  shell  layer  above.  A 
diseased  humerus  from  this  burial  was  sent  to  the  Army  Medical  Museum,  Wash 
ington.  With  the  bones  was  a  mass  of  red  pigment,  which  chemical  tests  showed 
to  be  an  iron  paint  ore,  probably  hematite,  and  not  cinnabar,  which  would  have 
indicated  European  contact. 

XXX. — A  layer  of  oyster  shells  having  its  S.  E.  corner  over  Burial  No.  4.  In 
thickness  it  varied  from  10  inches  to  7  inches  to  4  inches.  Its  outer  margin  was 
8  feet  10  inches  across.  It  extended  into  the  mound  a  distance  of  G  feet  8  inches, 
where  it  had  a  terminal  breadth  of  5  feet.  The  upper  surface  of  this  layer  was  1 
foot  10  inches  from  the  surface  of  the  mound. 

Burial  No.  •"),  a  grave  33  feet  W.  of  S.  W.  This  grave,  3  feet  from  the  surface 
to  the  base,  26  inches  in  diameter,  ran  9  inches  into  the  clear  yellow  sand  on  which 
the  skeleton  lay.  The  burial  was  that  of  an  adult  female,  head  E.,  on  left  side 
and  so  flexed  that  its  major  diameter  was  but  2-~)  inches.  Decay  was  noted  in 
several  of  the  molars,  a  condition  not  infrequent  in  this  mound. 

Burial  No.  6,  Vessel  E,  31  feet  S.  S.  E.,  a  vessel  of  the  usual  type,  inverted. 
The  body  and  base  so  badly  fractured  that  it  was  impossible  to  arrive  at  any  con 
clusion  as  to  a  perforation  in  the  base.  Within  the  vessel  were  a  few  fragments  of 
the  bones  of  a  child,  including  two  phalanges  of  the  toe,  unaffected  by  fire.  In 
addition,  were  some  calcined  shells  and  a  fragment  of  a  calcined  shell  with  a  central 
perforation.  This  vessel  had  been  placed  in  a  pit,  the  base  of  which,  3  feet  4  inches 
from  the  surface,  was  8  inches  below  the  line  of  the  clear  yellow  sand,  and  was  3 
feet  6  inches  across  at  the  point  of  entrance  into  the  yellow  sand. 

XXXX. — 29  feet  S.  E.,  a  layer  of  decayed  or  fire-blackened  wood,  1  foot  in  thick 
ness,  3  feet  9  inches  across,  extending  inward  about  3  feet  where  it  had  a  breadth 
of  about  1  foot.  It  lay  at  the  bottom  of  a  pit  filled  with  brownish  sand.  No  human 
remains  or  artifacts  were  in  association. 

15  JOURN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


118  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

Burial  No.  7,  29  feet  W.  by  S.,  a  circular  pit,  with  a  diameter  of  about  30 
inches,  whose  base  was  3G  inches  from  the  surface,  the  upper  22  inches  being  sur 
rounded  by  disturbed  brownish  sand,  the  lower  14  inches  extending  into  undisturbed 
yellow  sand.  About  G  inches  from  the  base  was  a  portion  of  a  thorax,  one  scapula 
and  the  head  of  a  humerus. 

Vessel  F,  25  feet  S.  E..  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  lying  on  its  side  on 
undisturbed  yellow  sand,  there  2  feet  from  the  surface.  No  bones  were  discovered 
and  the  vessel  was  too  much  crushed  to  furnish  exact  data  of  any  sort. 

In  the  outer  S.  E.  portion  of  the  mound,  unassociated  with  human  remains, 
were  six  fresh-water  mussel  shells,  one  within  the  other,  four  badly  crushed.  The 
remaining  two  showed  no  perforation. 

Burial  No.  8,  21  feet  E.  by  S..  probably  a  grave,  but  the  line  of  demarcation 
impossible  to  determine.  On  the  base,  2  feet  4  inches  down,  was  a  skeleton,  head 
E.,  and  turned  to  the  left,  trunk  on  face,  knees  to  left,  legs  flexed  back  on  thighs. 
Arms  parallel  to  sides  of  body,  forearms  flexed  up.  This  skeleton,  of  an  individual 
about  5  feet  5  inches  in  height,  was  of  a  slender  male  or  of  a  strongly  built  woman. 

Burial  No.  9,  27  feet  S.  W.,  in  a  pit,  2  feet  G  inches  from  the  surface,  above 
No.  1G,  were  a  few  scattered  bones  including  phalanges,  two  bits  of  radius,  one 
patella,  two  ossa  innominata. 

Burial  No.  10,  28  feet  S.,  a  skeleton  of  a  child  lying  on  undisturbed  yellow 
sand,  there  3  feet  9  inches  from  the  surface.  The  bones  were  inadvertently  dug 
into  and  disarranged.  No  pit  was  apparent — by  no  means  conclusive  proof  of  its 
non-existence  in  the  case  of  this  mound. 

Burial  No.  11,  32  feet  S.  W.,  a  grave  beneath  Burial  No.  4  and  under  the  shell 
laver  XXX,  having  its  base  5  feet  4  inches  from  the  surface.  The  most  careful 

»/ 

endeavor  failed  to  define  the  limits  of  this  grave  which  contained  a  skeleton  of  a 
male  on  left  side,  head  N.  E.  with  one  knee  under  the  head  and  one  against  the 
forehead. 

Burial  No.  12,  Vessel  G,  2G  feet  S.,  a  bell-jar  shaped  vessel,  imperforate,  with 
faint  checked  stamp,  inverted  on  the  yellow  sand,  there  3  feet  G  inches  from  the 
surface.  A  small  section  of  the  rim  was  missing.  Several  cracks  were  filled  with 
a  quick-setting  cement  which  was  allowed  to  dry  while  the  vessel  was  in  place. 
The  vessel  contained  the  calcined  bones  of  a  child  lying  on  sand  which  extended 
up  inside  about  two-fifths  of  the  height  of  the  vessel,  which  is  12.5  inches.  Its 
diameter  of  mouth,  which  is  also  its  maximum  diameter,  is  12.5  inches. 

Burial  No.  13a,  b,  c,  26  feet  S.,  three  skeletons  of  dogs  buried  singly  within 
a  few  feet  of  each  other. 

Burial  No.  14,  22  feet  W..  a  pocket  of  calcined  human  remains  and  charcoal, 
31  inches  down,  9  inches  across  at  the  start,  and  about  3  inches  thick.  It  tapered 
inward  a  distance  of  about  13  inches.  Among  the  fragmentary  bones  were  a  number 
of  shell  beads,  some  calcined  and  others  unaffected  by  fire. 

Burial  No.  15,  25  feet  S.  W.,  a  grave,  surface  to  bottom  of  pit,  on  which  skeleton 
lay,  4  feet  G  inches.  It  extended  1  toot  G  inches  into  clear  yellow  sand.  Its  limits 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.   119 

in  the  disturbed  sand  above  were  not  distinguishable.  It  contained  a  Hexed  skeleton 
of  male  on  right  side,  head  X.  E. 

Burial  No.  lli,  2  leet  9  inches  directly  below  No.  9,  or  4  I'eet  10  inches  from 
the  surface  to  the  bottom  of  the  pit  on  which  the  bones  lay,  a  Hexed  burial  of  a 
female  on  left  side,  head  S.  K. 

Burial  No.  17,  Vessel  II,  14  feet  S.  E.  by  E.,  the  lower  portion  of  an  imperforate 
vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  just  below  the  surface.  Portions  had  been  broken  oil' 
and  scattered  by  the  plow.  It  had  been  filled  with  a  mass  of  calcined  human 
remains,  some  of  which  from  the  upper  part,  lay  scattered  about. 

Burial  No.  1  7a,  a  skeleton  of  a  dog  some  distance  below  Vessel  11. 
Burial  No.  18,  21   feet  S.  of  W.,  on  the  line  of  the  clear  yellow  sand,  there  4 
feet  3  inches  down,  lay  a  skeleton  of  uncertain   sex  at  full  length,  face  down,  head 
S.  by  E.     The  skeleton   measured  G  leet  and  .5  of  an   inch   as  it  lay,  but  the  parts 
were  not  in  immediate  contact.      No  grave  was  noticeable. 

Burial  No.  19,  23  feet  S.  by  W.,  a  pocket  of  calcined  fragmentary  human  bones 

on  the  line  of  the  clear  yellow  sand  just 

S.w      —  _NE       ;;  fat  {'mm  the   surface,   about  0  inches 

across  at  the  start  and  4  inches  thick, 
broadening  to  10  inches  and  tapering  to  a 
point  10  inches  from  the  start.  With 
the  calcined  fragments  were  shell  beads 
unaffected  by  fire. 

Burial   No.  20.   3  feet  E.  of  No.  1!). 
apparently  a  »Tave  extending  12  inches 

Fig.  68.— Section  of  grave  21.     Mound  I).  * 

into  the  clear  yellow  sand  and  having  its 

base  3  feet  6  inches  from  the  surface.  It  contained  the  skeleton  of  a  male,  an 
ordinary  Hexed  burial  on  the  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  21,  25  feet  S.,  a  pit  extending  1  foot  into  the  yellow  sand,  its  base 
3  feet  from  the  surface  (Fig.  08).  At  the  bottom  lay  a  skeleton  of  a  young  person 
about  10  years  of  age,  flexed  on  the  right  side,  head  S.  Above  the  skeleton  was 
a  layer  of  charcoal  about  G  inches  thick,  mixed  in  places  with  burnt  sand  and  shell, 
extending  up  the  sides  of  the  pit  to  a  level  about  1  foot  G  inches  above.  The 
diameter  of  the  pit  which  was  apparently  circular,  was,  where  the  charcoal  ter 
minated,  3  feet  4  inches.  The  jaw  and  other  parts  of  the  skeleton  lying  in  contact 
with  the  charcoal  were  charred  or  calcined,  while  other  portions  lying  away  fronrit 
showed  no  mark  of  fire. 

Burial  No.  22a,  14  feet  S.  E.,  a  grave  7.-")  feet  long  by  2  feet  wide,  running  17 
inches  into  the  undisturbed  yellow  sand,  its  base  4  feet  3  inches  from  the  surface, 
containing  skeleton  of  a  woman  at  full  length,  face  down,  head  N.  by  E.,  arms  along 
side,  measuring  5.5  feet  as  it  lay. 

Burial  No.  22b,  over  the  feet  of  Burial  No.  22a,  in  disturbed  sand,  3  feet  2  inches 
from  the  surface,  a  flexed  burial  of  a  young  adult  female,  head  N.  E.  Right  knee 
up  at  right  angle  to  the  body,  leg  parallel  to  the  thigh ;  left  knee  in  contact  with 


120  CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

the  head.  Right  arm  and  forearm  down  along  body ;  left  arm  along  body,  with 
forearm  across  body. 

Burial  No.  22c,  30  inches  from  the  surface,  above  pelvic  portion  of  Burial  No. 
22a.  Male,  face  down,  head  S.  E.  Knees  and  legs  to  the  left.  Arms  along  body 
with  forearms  under  it. 

Burial  No.  22d,  above  Burial  No.  22b,  but  just  beneath  surface,  skeleton  of  an 
adult  male,  disturbed  by  the  plow,  lying  on  back,  head  W.,  knees  to  the  left. 

Burial  No.  22e.  10  feet  E.  by  S..  on  the  line  of  undisturbed  sand,  a  flexed  skeleton 
of  a  female,  face  down,  head  S.  A  pebble-hammer  lay  in  association. 

Above  these  burials,  with  the  exception  of  No.  22d,  the  central  shell  layer  first 
made  its  appearance,  at  first  but  an  inch  or  two  in  thickness,  increasing  over  the 
burials  to  14  inches  where  its  upper  margin  was  8  inches  below  the  upper  surface 
of  the  mound. 

Burial  No.  23,  21  feet  W.,  2  feet  8  inches  down  on  clear  yellow  sand  with  a 
thin  layer  of  oyster  shells  above  it,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  female,  face  down  and 
under  the  body,  head  W.,  a  knee  on  either  side  of  the  head  with  arms  between 
body  and  thighs. 

Burial  No.  24,  35  feet  N.  by  E.,  skeleton  of  a  dog,  2  feet  7  inches  down. 

Burial  No.  25,  17  feet  E.  of  S.,  flexed 
skeleton  of  female,  face  down,  head  W.,  2  feet 
10  inches  from  the  surface  on  the  line  of  the 
undisturbed  yellow  sand.  No  grave  was 
apparent. 

Burial  No.  2(>,  21  feet  W.  of  S.,  a  pocket 
of    calcined  fragments  of   human   bones  and 
charcoal,  3  inches  thick  at  the  start,  lying  on 
Fig.  eo.-Massive  bead  of  shell.   Mound  D.          the  line  of  undisturbed  sand,  3  feet  8  inches 

(Full  size.) 

down.  This  layer  at  the  start  was  1  foot  10 

inches  across,  broadening  18  inches  inward  to  27  inches,  with  a  maximum  thickness 
of  8  inches  and  tapering  from  that  point  to  its  end,  2  feet  11  inches  from  the  start. 

Burial  No.  27a,  10  feet  S.  by  E.,  a  pit  with  charcoal,  much  resembling  No.  21, 
having  its  base  4  feet  2  inches  from  the  surface.  At  its  base  was  a  skeleton  of 
uncertain  sex,  flexed,  trunk  face  down,  head  E.  Though  the  skull  lay  in  the  char 
coal,  it  bore  no  marks  of  fire. 

Burial  No.  27b,  about  10  inches  above  No.  27a,  was  a  flexed  skeleton  of  a  male, 
on  right  side,  head  W. 

Burial  No.  28,  Vessel  I,  19  feet  S.,  just  beneath  the  surface  was  a  vessel  crushed 
to  fragments  by  the  plow,  with  calcined  pieces  of  human  bones  which  the  vessel 
had  contained. 

Burial  No.  29,  18  feet  S.,  flexed  skeleton  of  male  on  back,  on  undisturbed  sand, 
3  feet  3  inches  from  surface,  head  8.  W. 

Burial  No.  30,  Vessel  J,  14  feet  S.,  undecorated  vessel  broken  into  fragments  by 
the  plow,  containing  calcined  bones  of  a  child  and  many  small  shell  beads  with  33 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.   121 

massive  beads,1  some  at  least  wrought  from  the  columella  of  Fulgtir  carica  and  still 
showing  traces  of  the  attractive  natural  carnelian  color,  tlie  largest  having  a  length 
of  2.2-5  inches  and  a  diameter  of  1.4  inches  (Fig.  09).  Two  similar  beads  lav  in 
the  sand  near  by.  With  the  shell  beads  were  1C  pearls,2  perforated,  but  otherwise 
in  good  condition,  the  largest  having  a  diameter  of  10.7  mm.  by  9.6  mm. 

Burial  No.  '-51.  17  feet  S.  by  W..  skeleton  of  female  on  line  of  clear  yellow 
sand,  there  3  feet  6  inches  from  surface,  head  S.  Trunk  much  twisted.  Pelvic 
portion  on  back,  upper  trunk  twisted  to  left.  Left  shoulder  under  and  toward 
opposite  side.  Left  arm  and  forearm  along  body.  Right  arm  and  forearm  under 
body.  Right  thigh  at  right  angle  to  body  and  projecting  upward,  leg  Hexed  back 
against  it.  Left  thigh  along  body  with  leg  against  thigh. 

Burial  No.  32,  '20  feet  S.  W.,  skeleton  of  young  person  on  yellow  sand  3  feet 
9  inches  from  surface,  on  right  side,  head  E.,  body  partially  Hexed,  knees  at  right 
angles  to  body  with  legs  flexed  back  on  thighs. 

Burial  No.  33,  21  feet  W.  by  N.,  skeleton  of  a  child,  Hexed  on  left  side,  head 
W.,  lying  on  clear  yellow  sand  in  a  grave  the  boundaries  of  which  were  not  exactly 
distinguishable. 

Burial   No.  34,  22  feet  W.  bv  N.,  skeleton  of  an  adolescent,  lying;  on   yellow 

v  »/  O  v 

sand  (')  feet  from  surface,  flexed  on  back,  head  N.,  next  to  Burial  No.  1  and  probably 
in  same  pit. 

Burial  No.  35,  Vessel  K.  19  feet  S.  W.,  an  undeeorated  bowl  of  black  ware, 
crushed  by  the  plow,  but  partially  held  together  by  sand.  Nearby  were  human 
bones  and  fragments  of  bone  unaffected  by  fire,  probably  scattered  by  the  plow. 
Their  connection  with  the  bowl,  which  apparently  contained  no  human  remains, 
could  not  be  established. 

Burial  No.  36,  16  feet  S.  by  W.,  skeleton  of  male,  on  undisturbed  sand  4  feet 
from  surface,  flexed  on  right  side,  head  N. 

Burial  No.  37,  Vessel  L,  18  feet  S.  W.,  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type  with  top 
and  upper  body  crushed  by  the  plow,  half  filled  with  calcined  human  remains  and 
imperforate,  as  are  all  vessels  we  have  found  holding  calcined  remains. 

Burial  No.  38.  13  feet  S.,  skeleton  of  female,  flexed  on  right  side,  head  W., 
lying  on  the  level,  2  feet  below  the  surface. 

Burial  No.  39,  31  feet  N.  by  W.,  a  grave  having  its  base  6  feet  2  inches  from 
the  surface,  and  extending  about  4  feet  into  undisturbed  sand.  Its  diameter  at  the 
line  of  the  yellow  sand  was  8  feet  8  inches,  lessening  to  2  feet  9  inches,  one  foot 
above  the  base  upon  which  lay  a  skeleton  of  a  male.  Hexed  on  right  side,  head  S.  E. 
A  bit  of  cord-marked  pottery — possibly  of  accidental  introduction — lay  near  the  foot. 

Burial  No.  40,  14  feet  S.  by  W.,  skeleton  of  a  dog.  3  feet  from  surface. 

Burial  No.  41,  20  feet  S.  W.,  a  pit  extending  14  inches  into  yellow  sand  and 
having  its  base  4  feet  4  inches  from  the  surface.  On  the  base  lav  a  skeleton  of  a 
female,  flexed  on  left  side,  facing  back,  head  S. 

1  See  "  Art  in  Shell,"  Plate  XXXIV,  Report  Bureau  of  Ethnology,  1880-1881. 

2  As  to  pearls  in  Southern  mounds  see  Antiquities  of  the  Southern  Indians,  C.  C.  Jones,  Chap 
ter  XXI. 


122  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 


Fig.  70. — Piercing 
implement  of 
bone.  Mound 
D.  (Two-thirds 
size.) 


Burial  No.  42,  skeleton  of  a  dog,  immediately  above  No.  41. 

Burial  No.  43,  18  feet  S.  W.,  3  feet  G  inches  from  surface  in 
same  pit  as  No.  41,  were  a  single  skull  and  one  tibia,  about  3  feet 
distant.  These  bones  had  probably  been  disturbed  by  the  introduc 
tion  of  the  burial  below. 

Burial  No.  44,  10  feet  S.  by  W.,  skeleton  of  a  female  lying  on 
a  shell  layer  2  feet  10  inches  from  the  surface.  The  head,  which 
would  have  been  N.  E.,  was  bent  over  and  crushed  on  the  pelvis. 
The  lower  trunk  lay  on  the  back,  the  upper  was  bent  over.  The 
right  arm  lay  along  body  with  forearm  Hexed  along  thigh.  The 
left  arm  was  alongside  of  body  with  forearm  across  pelvis.  The 
thighs  extended  laterally  at  right  angles  to  opposite  sides  of  the 
body.  Legs  were  flexed  back  against  them. 

Burial  No.  45,  6  feet  S.  E.,  several  scattered  human  bones  in 
the  great  central  shell  pocket.  Other  bones  were  scattered  at 
various  points  throughout. 

Burial  No.  40,  1C  feet  W.  by  S.,  on  the  line  of  the  yellow  sand, 
there  3  feet  10  inches  from  the  surface,  was  a  skeleton  of  a  female, 
at  full  length,  measuring  5  feet  8  inches  as  it  lay,  on  back,  head 
S.,  face  E.,  right  arm  along  side,  forearm  crossing  to  pelvis  ;  left  arm 
along  body,  forearm  Hexed  back  with  hand  to  shoulder. 

Burial  No.  47,  2G  feet  N.  by  E.,  on  the  yellow  sand,  there  2  feet 
from  the  surface,  isolated  cranium  wanting  face  bones  and  lower  jaw. 

Burial  No.  48,  13  feet  S.  W.,  3  feet  G  inches  down,  skeleton  of 
animal,  probably  dog,  which  fell  into  small  bits  upon  removal. 

Burial  No.  49.  9  feet  S.  W.,  a  fireplace  composed  of  a  layer 
of  charcoal  and  blackened  sand,  4  inches  thick  at  start  and  1  foot 
8  inches  across.  One  foot  inward  it  was  25  inches  across  and  5  inches 
thick,  lessening  from  that  point  to  its  termination  2G  inches  from 
its  outer  margin.  It  \vas  18  inches  below  the  surface  of  the  mound. 

Burial  No.  50,  2  feet  S.,  in  the  great  central  shell  pocket,  4 
feet  from  the  surface,  was  a  deposit  of  calcined  human  bones,  3 
inches  thick  at  the  beginning  and  13  inches  in  breadth.  Sixteen 
inches  inward  it  was  25  inches  across  and  about  4  inches  thick.  It 
extended  inward  2  feet  9  inches.  With  the  calcined  bones  was  no 
charcoal,  and  fragments  of  bones  of  lower  animals  lying  among 
them  showed  no  trace  of  fire.  The  cremation,  therefore,  had  not 
been  carried  into  effect  on  the  spot.  With  the  remains  was  an 
interesting  pointed  implement  11.3  inches  in  length  (Fig.  70), 
wrought  from  a  split  bone  of  a  lower  animal,  with  a  carefully 
incised  decoration  on  the  handle,  a  part  of  which  is  missing.  An 
interesting  feature  is  a  former  fracture  repaired  by  the  use  of 
bitumen.  With  the  piercing  implement  was  what  may  have  been 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.  12:! 

a  portion  of  a  neatly  carved  handle  of  another  bone  imple 
ment;  a  small  bone  implement  that  crumbled  to  pieces,  and 
half  a  rude  chert  arrowhead  or  knife. 

Twenty-five  feet  N.  by  PL,  and  2  feet  from  the  surface, 
which  at  this  part  had  no  layer  of  oyster  shells  and  seemed 
encumbered  to  a  considerable  extent  with  sand  plowed  from 
higher  portions  of  the  mound,  was  an   axe  of  steel.     This 
axe,  which  was  not  greatly  rusted  and  is  now  doing  duty 
on   our  steamer,  had   a  certain   amount  of  wood   remaining  in  the  eye. 
It  is  of  the  form  at   present   known   as  the  "turpentine  axe"   and   is 
employed  for  "boxing"  pine  trees.     It  bears  no  resemblance  to  those 
axes  in  use  among  later   Indians,  one  of  which  is  figured  by  us  in  Part 
I   of   our  Report  on   the  "  Mounds  of  the  St.  Johns  River,   Florida." 
page  07,  and,  in  our  opinion,  was  a  recent  addition  to  the  mound,  and 
has  no  connection   with   the  period  of    its  construction.       It  was  not 
immediately  associated  with  human  remains. 

Burial  No.  51,  7  feet  S.  W.,  G  feet  8  inches  from  the  surface,  or  4 
inches  above  the  base  of  the  great  central  pit,  beneath  the  shell,  was  a 
skeleton  of  a  male.  Hexed  on  left  side,  head  N.  E. 

Burial  No.  52.  just  K.  of  the  head  of  Burial  No.  51,  about  10  inches 
above  the  bottom  of  the  pit.  was  a  layer  of  calcined  human  bones  (of 
course,  in  small  fragments)  having  a  thickness  of  4  inches  at  the  begin 
ning  and  a  breadth  of  1  foot  7  inches.  One  foot  from  the  beginning  its 
thickness  was  5  inches,  its  breadth  2  feet.  It  extended  inward  a 
distance  of  2G  inches.  At  the  eastern  outer  corner  was  an  undecorated 
bowl,  imperforate,  of  about  one  pint  capacity,  filled  with  fragmentary 
calcined  bones  which  possibly  had  entered  from  the  layer  contiguous  to 
it,  With  these  was  a  molar  of  a  bear.  Partially  covering  the  opening 
of  this  bowl  was  a  somewhat  larger  one  from  which  a  portion  was 
missing.  On  either  side  of  the  bowls  was  hematite  and  a  thin  layer  of 
it  lay  upon  the  upper  surface  of  the  layer  of  bones.  With  the 
remains  was  a  small  cord-marked  bowl  in  pieces,  containing  a  few 
shell  beads.  In  addition,  unaffected  by  fire,  were  three  piercing 
implements  of  bone,  two  of  ordinary  type,  the  other,  S.o  inches  long, 
having  as  a  head  the  articular  portion  of  the  bone — a  common  enough 
form  save  that  a  certain  portion  had  been  removed  from  either  side  as 
shown  in  Fig.  71.  Near  these  was  a  mass  of  fresh-water  mussels  (Unio 
shepardiamis.  Lea  ;  Unio  dolabriformis,  Lea ;  Unio  roanokensis, 
Lea),1  perhaps  fifty,  nearly  all  hopelessly  decayed  and  crushed.  So  far 
as  could  be  determined  each  one  bore  a  double  perforation  lor  suspension. 
Those  preserved  show  no  variation  from  living  forms. 

Burial  No.  53,  25  feet  E.  of  N..  a  grave  having  its  base  4  feet  9 

1  Identified  by  Professor  Pilsbry. 


Fig.  71. — Piercing  implement  of  bone.     Mound  D.     (Full  size.) 


124  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE  GEORGIA  COAST. 

inches  from  the  surface  and  extending  2  feet  8  inches  into  the  yellow  undisturbed 
sand.  The  diameter  of  this  grave,  2  feet  1  inch  beneath  the  surface,  where  it  first 
became  apparent  upon  entering  the  clear  sand,  was  8  feet.  It  converged  to  a  base 
upon  which  lay  a  skeleton  of  a  male,  flexed  on  right  side,  head  N.  E.  The  super 
ficial  layer  of  .shell  began  at  this  point. 

Burial  No.  54,  30  feet  N.  of  E.,  a  layer  of  charcoal,  blackened  sand  and  calcined 
shells,  8  inches  thick,  20  inches  long,  extending  inward  18  inches.  The  upper 
margin  of  this  layer  was  3.5  feet  from  the  surface. 

Burial  No.  55,  25  feet  E.  by  S.,  a  part  of  a  skull  and  a  sacrum,  2  feet  4  inches 
from  the  surface.  One  foot  2  inches  lower  and  about  2  feet  farther  inward  was  a 
skeleton  flexed  on  its  right  side,  lacking  the  skull  but  having  the  sacrum  in  place. 

Burial  No.  56,  17  feet  N.  W.,  3  feet  9  inches  from  the  surface,  skeleton  of 
young  person  with  epiphyses  unattached,  flexed  on  right  side,  head  N.  E. 

Burial  No.  57,  17  feet  N.  by  W.,  3  feet  from  the  surface  on  undisturbed  sand 
lay  a  skeleton  of  a  male,  on  the  right  side,  flexed,  the  knees  out,  head  E.  This 
skeleton  showed  a  fairly. well-united  fracture  of  the  lower  end  of  the  fibula. 

Burial  No.  58, 19  feet  N.  by  E.,  in  a  pit  having  its  base  5  feet  from  the  surface, 
beneath  a  superficial  layer  of  2  feet  4  inches  of  shell,  which  began  over  No.  53,  was 
a  skeleton  of  uncertain  sex,  at  full  length,  face  down,  measuring  5  feet  G  inches  as 
it  lay,  head  E.,  arms  parallel  to  body.  Above  the  skeleton,  beginning  at  the  surface, 
were  : 

Dark  sand 1  foot  3  inches 

Shell  layer 2  feet  4  inches 

The  pit  beginning  immediately  under  the  shell  was  filled  with  1  foot  5  inches 
of  disturbed  yellow  sand.  As  no  oyster  shells  were  mingled  with  the  sand  filling 
the  grave,  it  is  evident  that  the  grave  was  completed  before  the  beginning  of  the 
layer  above  it,  and  not  dug  through  it. 

Burial  No.  59,  14  feet  N.  W.,  3  feet  4  inches  from  surface,  skeleton  of  male 
with  bones  disarranged  through  inadvertence  of  diggers. 

Burial  No.  GO,  1G  feet  N.  W.,  a  grave  filled  with  brown  sand,  having  disturbed 
yellow  sand  on  either  side.  From  surface  of  mound  to  base  of  pit,  3  feet  3  inches. 
On  undisturbed  sand,  flexed  skeleton  of  female,  head  N.  W.,  shoulders  on  back, 
lower  trunk  turned  to  the  left,  knees  to  the  left. 

Burial  No.  Gl,  21  feet  N.  E.,  a  pocket  of  calcined  human  bones  and  charcoal, 
3  feet  4  inches  from  the  surface  to  its  lower  margin,  10  inches  thick,  20  inches 
across  and  extending  inward  10  inches.  Near  this  fireplace  was  the  lower  articular 
portion  of  the  femur  of  a  bear,  neatly  severed  by  a  cutting  tool.  A  -similar  speci 
men  was  taken  from  Mound  B,  Darien. 

Burial  No.  62,  Vessel  Ma,  17  feet  E.  by  S.,  a  vessel  of  the  ordinary  type,  having 
its  upper  margin  9  inches  below  the  surface,  crushed  to  fragments  by  the  plow,  which, 
however,  were  subsequently  recovered  and  pieced  together.  Height,  18  inches ;  dia 
meter  of  mouth,  13.5  inches;  diameter  of  body,  11.5  inches.  Upright,  within 
vessel  Ma,  was  an  undecorated  bowl  of  black  ware,  slightly  flaring  (Mb).  Approxi- 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.  125 

mate  measurements :  maximum  diameter,  which  was  at  the  mouth,  8.5  inches ; 
height,  5  inches.  Within  Mb,  was  a  third  vase  (Me)  of  black  ware,  having  a 
globular  body  and  flaring  rim  with  decoration  around  the  margin  consisting  of 
raised  circles  enclosing  projections.  Diameter  at  mouth,  5  inches;  of  body,  •">.! 
inches;  height,  G  inches.  Within  Me  were  a  few  calcined  fragments  of  the  bones 
of  an  infant.  Both  Mb  and  Me,  though  badly  broken,  have  been  pieced  together 
with  practically  no  missing  parts.  Above  and  around  Ma  were  pieces  of  earthen 
ware  belonging  to  at  least  two  vessels,  which  may  have  served  as  a  covering  before 
the  advent  of  the  plow. 

Burial  No.  03,  13  feet  W.  by  N.,  2  feet  G  inches  from  the  surface,  in  a  grave 
which  had  its  base  on  the  undisturbed  sand  4  feet  G  inches  down,  was  a  seated 
skeleton,  facing  N.,  with  head  crushed  down  on  the  pelvis.  Both  arms  were  parallel 
with  the  body,  the  forearms  crossing  on  the  pelvis.  The  thighs,  with  legs  Hexed 
back  on  them,  projected  up  on  either  side.  Sex  uncertain. 

Burial  No.  64,  immediately  beneath  No.  03,  flexed  skeleton  of  female,  trunk  to 
the  left,  head  N.  and  facing  in  that  direction. 

Burial  No.  65,  isolated  skull  of  a  child  in  contact  with  the  cranium  of  No.  64. 

Burial  No.  66,  with  the  pelvis  against  No.  05  and  the  cranium  of  No.  04  was 
a  skeleton  of  a  young  person,  head  S.,  upper  trunk  on  back,  head  over  on  chest, 
legs  flexed  and  turned  to  the  right.  Right  arm  along  body  with  forearm  beneath 
thighs.  Left  arm  a  little  out  and  down,  with  forearm  across  pelvis. 

Burial  No.  07,  along  the  bottom  of  the  grave  in  which  were  Nos.  03,  04,  05 
and  00,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  woman,  face  down,  at  full  length,  5  feet  8  inches  long 
as  it  lay ;  head  N.,  arms  and  forearms  parallel  to  trunk. 

Burial  No.  68,  10  feet  N.  by  W.,  scattered  human  bones,  4  feet  from  surface. 

Burial  No.  09,  9  feet  W.  of  N.,  skeleton  of  young  person,  flexed  on  right  side, 
head  S.  E.,  3  feet  down.  In  association  were  a  number  of  Olivella  shells  pierced 
for  stringing. 

Burial  No.  70,  on  the  same  plane,  and  about  1  foot  N.  of  No.  09,  was  the 
skeleton  of  a  child  about  5  years  of  age,  flexed  on  the  left  side,  head  N.  With 
it  was  a  cord-marked  bowl  imposed  upon  a  basket-marked  cup,  each  of  somewhat 
less  than  one  pint  capacity  and  imperfqrate  as  to  its  base.  At  the  bottom  of  the  cup 
were  traces  of  red  pigment. 

Burial  No.  71,  just  E.  of  the  cranium  of  No.  70  were  parts  of  the  skull  of  an 
infant  and  a  few  fragmentary  bones. 

Burial  No.  72,  11  feet  N.  W.,  3  feet  down,  flexed  skeleton  of  child  from  three 
to  five  years  of  age,  badly  crushed,  head  N. 

Burial  No.  73,  Vessel  N,  11  feet  E.  by  N.,  just  beneath  the  surface,  an  upright 
urn-shaped  vessel  with  a  faint  diamond-stamped  decoration,  of  poor  material  and 
completely  rotten.  It  contained  the  calcined  remains  of  a  child.  Though  in  such 
bad  condition  this  vessel  was  cemented  in  place,  pieced  together  and  allowed  to  dry 
before  removal  and  was  thus  recovered  in  fairly  good  condition.  Approximate 

l(i  JOURX.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


120  CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

measurements:   height,  11   inches;  diameter  of  mouth  and   maximum  diameter  of 
body,  each  about  8.75  inches  (Plate  XV). 

Vessel  0.  Immediately  behind  Vessel  N,  on  its  side,  facing  it,  was  an  imper- 
forate  bowl  intact,  with  complicated,  stamped  decoration  (Plate  XIV,  Fig.  2).  Ap 
proximate  measurements :  diameter  of  mouth,  and  maximum  diameter  of  body, 
each.  8.2  inches  ;  height,  G  inches.  No  human  remains  were  found  in  association, 
within  or  without. 

Burial  No.  74,  14  feet  E.  of  N.,  skeleton  of  a  dog. 

Burial  No.  75,  11  feet  S.  of  E.,  4  feet  9  inches  down  in  a  pit  shown  in  the 
cross-section  of  the  mound,  a  flexed  skeleton  of  a  child,  head  E. 

Burial  No.  70,  10  feet  E.,  skeleton  of  a  dog.  3  feet  from  the  surface,  at  the 
bottom  of  a  small  pocket,  beneath  a  local  shell  layer.  This  small  pit  had  been  dug 
through  the  shell  layer,  or  through  part  of  it,  during  its  formation,  as  the  pit  had 
been  filled  with  shells  from  the  layer.  However,  a  layer  of  calcined  human  bones 
(Burial  No.  77)  entirely  intact,  lay  above  the  pit  containing  the  dog,  which  was 
therefore  not  an  intrusive  burial. 

Burial  No.  77,  10  feet  E.,  0  inches  from  surface,  a  pocket  of  calcined  human 
bones,  5  inches  thick,  circular,  with  a  diameter  of  about  7  inches. 

Burial  No.  78,  11  feet  E.,  3  feet  8  inches  from  surface,  in  disturbed  sand, 
skeleton  of  a  child,  flexed  on  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  79,  18  feet  N.  E.,  0  feet  9  inches  from  the  surface,  at  the  bottom  of 
a  pit  and  let  into  the  clear  yellow  sand,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  male,  at  full  length, 
face  down,  head  N.  W.,  with  arms  and  forearms  parallel  to  body.  The  cranium 
was  saved  (A.  N.  S.,  Cat,  No.  2,100). 

Burial  No.  80,  11  f'eet  E.  by  N.,  on  the  clear  yellow  sand  on  the  slope  of  the 
pit  ending  with  Burial  No.  79  was  a  skeleton  in  a  sitting  position  leaning  forward, 
facing  W.,  head  forced  doAvn  to  pelvis,  right  arm  along  body,  forearm  crossing  above 
pelvis,  left  arm  along  body,  forearm  forward  at  right  angle.  Thighs  with  legs 
against  them,  parallel  to  body. 

Burial  No.  81,  7  feet  N.  by  W.,  3  feet  8  inches  down,  just  beneath  the  shell 
layer,  in  disturbed  yellow  sand,  probably  part  of  a  large  grave,  the  exact  boundaries 
of  which  were  not  traceable,  was  a  skeleton  on  right  side,  head  N.  W.  A  few 
scattered  bones  of  another  body,  probably  disturbed  by  the  burial  of  No.  81,  lay  about. 

Burial  No.  82,  Vessel  P,  in  the  central  shell  pocket,  3  feet  W.,  3  feet  0  inches 
down,  crushed  but  held  together  by  the  shell,  on  its  side,  with  a  certain  portion 
missing,  was  an  imperforate  cord-marked  pot  of  poor  material,  approximately 
measuring  5.5  inches  in  height  and  0  inches  across  its  opening,  where  it  had  its 
maximum  diameter.  In  it  were  the  bones  of  an  infant,  unaffected  by  fire. 

Burial  No.  83,  8  feet  E.,  nearly  on  the  bottom  of  a  pit,  3  feet  from  the  surface, 
was  the  skeleton  of  a  female  on  left  side,  head  S.  W.,  very  much  twisted  as  shown 
in  Fig.  72.  Beneath  the  cranium  was  the  shell  of  a  fresh-water  mussel. 

Burial  No.  84,  5  feet  N.  E.,  3  feet  4  inches  down  in  a  pit  the  limits  of  which 
were  not  determined,  was  the  skeleton  of  a  male,  on  the  right  side,  head  PI 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST.   127 


KIR.  7S.  — Burial  No.  83.     (Not  on  scale.) 


Burial  No.  85,  1  foot  N.,  skeleton  of  a  dog. 

Mound  I)  furnishes  a  good  example  of  the  curious  forms  of  burial  prevalent  on 
the  Georgia  coast.  We  do  not  think  all  the  skeletons  were  intentionally  arranged 
as  found,  believing  some,  at  least,  were  forced  into  pits  comparatively  small  in  size 

(for  shovels  in  those  early  days  were  not  so 
convenient  as  now,  and  digging  was  more 
onerous),  and  were  twisted  into  positions 
more  or  less  the  result  of  chance.  The 
burials  at  full  length,  usually  at  a  great 
comparative  depth  from  the  surface,  were 
unqestionably  intentional  as  to  their  form, 
though  the  placing  of  the  skeleton  on  its 
back  or  on  its  face  may  have  been  a  matter 
of  accident.  In  addition,  we  have  layers  of 
calcined  human  bones  ;  uncremated  infant 
skeletons  buried  in  jars  ;  incinerated  remains 
of  single  infants  in  urns  ;  and  jars  filled  with 
incinerated  remains,  the  result  of  a  general 
cremation. 

One  curious  feature  was  the  presence  of  numerous  skeletons  of  dogs,  which 
were  not  found  in  fragments,  here  and  there  a  scattered  bone,  but  interred  in  their 
entirety.  These  dogs,  therefore,  evidently  had  not  served  as  food.  Curiously 
enough,  however,  the  dogs  did  not  lie  with  or  near  human  skeletons,  as  one  would 
expect  had  they  been  slain  and  buried  with  their  masters,  but  were  accorded  inter 
ment  by  themselves. 

In  no  mound  of  the  coast  of  Georgia  have  burials  of  dogs  approached  in  number 
those  in  Mound  I),  though  occasional  ones — always  represented  by  the  entire 
skeleton — have  been  met  with. 

In  Florida  we  found  in  a  shell-heap  on  the  Econlockhatchee  creek.  Orange 
County,  a  part  of  a  canine  jaw  of  considerable  interest,  which  the  late  Professor 
Cope  described  and  figured  in  the  American  Naturalist,  July,  1893,  in  connection 
with  certain  references  to  prehistoric  dogs  in  that  number.1 

Later,  another  fragmentary  canine  jaw  was  discovered  by  us  in  a  Florida 
shell-heap. 

On  the  base  of  the  Tick  Island  mound,  Volusia  County,  Florida,  we  found  the 
skeleton  of  a  dog,  the  skull  of  which  is  now  in  the  collection  of  the  late  Professor 
Cope  and  was  described  by  him  in  a  note  in  our  "Certain  Sand  Mounds  of  the  St. 
Johns  Ri-ver,  Florida,"  Part  II. 

On  the  base  of  the  Light-house  mound  near  Fernandina,  Florida,  were  two 
skeletons  of  dogs,  one  in  very -poor  condition.  .  The  skull  of  the  better  preserved 
one  is  in  the  possession  of  Professor  Putnam  and  references  to  it  by  Professors  Cope 

1  "Certain  Shell  Heaps  of  the  St.  Johns  River,  Florida,  Hitherto  Unexplored,"  by  C.  B.  Moore. 
Third  paper. 


128  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

and  Putnam  may  be  found  in  our  "  Certain  Florida  Coast  Mounds  north  of  the 
St.  Johns  River,"1  page  25  et  seq. 

Professor  Putnam,  in  whose  possession  all  our  Georgia  canine  skulls  now  are 
(1897),  after  an  extended  comparative  study,  is  convinced  that  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  a  prehistoric  dog  existed,  in  type  resembling  the  collie  but  with  slightly 
broader  jaws. 


Fig.  73. — Diagram  of  Mound  E. 

Mr.  Mercer  has  lately  described  a  portion  of  a  canine  jaw  found  by  him  in  a 
Maine  shell-heap,  with  a  note  by  Professor  Cope.2 

OSSABAW  ISLAND,  BRYAN  COUNTY.     MIDDLE  SETTLEMENT,  MOUND  E. 

This  mound,  in  the  same  field  and  about  300  yards  W.  of  Mound  D,  had  been 
plowed  over  for  so  long  a  period  that  little  could  be  determined  as  to  its  original 

1  Privately  printed,  Philadelphia,  1896. 

2  "An  Exploration  of  Aboriginal  Shell  Heaps."     Publications  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl 
vania,  Vol.  VI,  page  123  et  seq. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.  129 

height.     Its  altitude  at  the  time  of  the  demolition  of  the  mound  by   us  was   14 
inches  ;  its  diameter  we  judged  to  be  about  38  feet. 

Like  many  other  mounds  of  its  class  it  was  composed  of  dark  sand  over  undis 
turbed  yellow  sand,  separated  by  a  dark  band,  probably  the  original 
surface  of  the  field.  The  line  of  the  base  showed  marked  irregularities, 
with  several  curious  pits  similar  to  those  already  referred  to  in  other 
mounds.  Oyster  shells  covered  the  central  portion  of  the  mound  to  a 
depth  of  about  1  foot  (>  inches. 

We  give  a  detailed  description  of  the  skeletal  remains  in  conjunc 
tion  with  the  diagram  (Fig.  73). 

1. — 16  feet  S.  E.,  a  grave  with  the  base  34  inches  from  the  surface 
and  22  inches  below  the  base  line  of  the  mound.  In  it  was  part  of  a 
skeleton  in  anatomical  order,  trunk  on  back  and  upper  extremities  in 
order,  arms  down  along  body,  cranium  missing  but  a  few  teeth  lying  on 
ribs,  lower  extremities  missing  with  the  exception  of  left  foot  which  lay 
on  trunk  immediately  above  pelvis. 

2. — 15  feet  N.  W.,  a  female  skeleton,  head  N.  E.,  flexed  on  left  side, 
10  inches  down. 

X. — 12  feet  S.  of  W.,  a  fire-place  1  foot  beneath  surface,  20  inches 
long,  with  a  maximum  thickness  of  2  inches,  and  extending  inward  1 
foot  7  inches. 

3. — 11  feet  W.  by  S.,  8  inches  down,  a  number  of  loose  human 
bones  having  in  association  fragments  of  a  vessel  of  about  2  quarts 
capacity,  crushed  Hat.  The  cranium  was  missing.  This  disturbance 
probably  owed  its  origin  to  the  plow. 

4. — 8  feet  W.  by  S.,  a  skeleton  of  uncertain  sex,  head  E.,  trunk  on 
back,  left  thigh  extended,  leg  flexed  back  upon  it,  right  thigh  flexed 
toward  body,  leg  drawn  down  upon  thigh,  arms  and  forearms  parallel  to 
body.  This  skeleton,  one  humerus  of  which  showed  an  imperfectly 
united  fracture,1  was  15  inches  from  the  surface. 

5. — 12  feet  N.  by  W.,  a  grave  with  base  37  inches  from  the  surface, 
containing  a  skeleton  with  trunk  on  back,  head  S.  W.,  thighs  flexed  on 
.  body  and  turned  to  the  right,  legs  flexed  against  thighs,  right  arm  and 
forearm  parallel  with  body,  left  arm  along  body  with  forearm  flexed  at 
a  right  angle  across  body.     From  the  bottom  of  the  grave  to  the  top 
Fi    74  —Bone    °^  *ue  black  base-line  was  25  inches.       The  pit  was  3  feet  3  inches 
pin  with  in-    across  at  the  top. 

cised     decor 
ation.  Mound  XX. — 7  feet  W.,  a  fire-place  about  2  inches  thick,  1  foot  4  inches 

E.  (Full  size.)  _     ' 

below  the  surface.  Its  outer  margin  had  a  length  of  30  inches,  broad 
ening  to  3  feet  9  inches  about  1  foot  11  inches  inward.  From  the  left  corner  a 
small  spur  projected  9  inches  farther  in. 

6. — 2  feet  W..  a  curious  grave,  5  feet  G  inches  in  diameter  at  its  apparent 

1  Sent  to  the  Arinv  Medical  Museum,  Washington,  D.  C. 


130  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

starting  point  beneath  the  black  base  layer  of  the  mound  and  3.5  feet  across  its 
base,  extended  toward  the  center  a  distance  of  3.5  feet.  The  black  basal  layer 
of  the  mound  continued  unbroken  above  it,  showing  its  completion  previous  to  the 
inception  of  the  mound.  From  the  surface  of  the  mound  to  the  bottom  of  the 
grave  was  5  feet  4  inches.  From  the  bottom  of  the  black  band  to  the  bottom  of  the. 
grave  was  3  feet  G  inches.  In  the  grave,  4  feet  10  inches  from  the  surface,  were 
three  skeletons  of  children  all  about  five  or  six  years  of  age.  With  them  were 
many  fragments  of  pots  in  layers  and  one  small  undecorated  cup  with  a  curious 
knob  on  the  outside  at  the  bottom.  This  cup,  somewhat  crushed,  has  been  almost 
completely  restored. 

7. — Just  beneath  the  surface  were  certain  human  bones,  doubtless  remains  of  a 
skeleton  disturbed  by  a  plow. 

In  the  shell  debris  covering  the  mound  was  a  bone  pin  G  inches  in  length, 
encircled  as  to  the  upper  part  with  incised  decoration  extending  2  inches  down 
(Fig.  74). 

OSSABAW  ISLAND,  BRYAN  COUNTY.      MIDDLE  SETTLEMENT,  MOUND  F. 

This  low  elevation,  in  the  same  field  as  Mound  B  and  about  200  yards  in  a 
westerly  direction  from  it,  had  long  been  under  cultivation.  Its  highest  portion, 
where  superficial  shell  had  a  somewhat  greater  upward  slope,  was  about  20  inches 
above  the  general  level.  The  limits  of  the  mound  were  not  definitely  fixed.  A 
diameter  of  7G  feet  was  taken  and  the  southernmost  half  of  the  circumference  was 
carefully  dug  through. 

The  mound,  which  had  absolutely  no  dark  band  running  through  it,  was  coin- 
posed  of  black  loam  mixed  with  oyster  shells.  The  usual  grave-pits  were  present, 
the  majority  being  filled  with  midden  refuse,  though  several  contained  dark  sandpnly. 

Human  remains,  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation,  were  met  with  to  the 
number  of  twenty.  No  urn-burials  of  any  sort  or  pockets  of  calcined  remains 
\vere  found. 

One  skeleton  of  a  dog  was  found,  interred  alone,  as  usual. 

Cord-marked  ware  in  the  form  of  sherds,  was  present  through  the  body  of  the 
mound  but  the  complicated  stamp  was  unrepresented  save  by  two  or  three  fragments 
from  near  the  surface.  One  undecorated  sherd  had  a  thickness  of  1.1  inches. 

Four  pebble-hammers  lay  separately  in  the  sand.  Three  others,  two  of  quartz 
and  one  of  Granultie,1  lay  together,  away  from  human  remains.  One  had  a  length 
of  about  G  inches. 

Four  rude  piercing  implements  of  bone  came  separately  from  the  midden  refuse 
in  which  also  was  found  the  tine  of  a  stag-horn,  severed  by  a  cutting  tool. 

Burials  were  of  the  flexed  variety ;  the  majority  of  skeletons  on  the  left  side. 
The  direction  of  the  heads  of  eighteen  was  noted.  Ten  were  to  the  E.,  two  to  the 
N.  E.,  two  to  the  S.  E.,  two  to  the  W.,  one  to  the  N.  and  one  to  the  S.  W. 

A  little  hematite  lay  with  one  burial.  With  another  were  two  fresh-water 
mussel  shells  and  a  mass  of  rock,  somewhat  worked. 

1  All  determinations  of  rock  are  by  Dr.  Goldsmith. 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS  OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.  131 

OSSAHA\V  ISLAND,  BKYAN  CWXTY.     BUTF   FIKI.D,  Morxi)  A. 

Tin1  Blufl'  Field  is  a  cultivated  tract  about  2.0  miles  by  land  in  a  northeasterly 
direction  from  the  Middle  Settlement,  and  is  under  the  same  control. 

Mound  A,  about  midway  between  the  extremities  of  the  field,  and  perhaps  7"> 
yards  from  the  bluff,  had  a  height  of  2  feet  '•}  inches  above  the  surrounding  level. 
We  gave  to  it  a  diameter  of  about  0(i  feet,  which  probably  included  more  than  the 
mound.  The  mound  had  been  much  plowed  away  but  bore  no  trace  of  previous 
investigation,  save  several  small  holes  dug  by  colored  men. 

The  mound  was  completely  dug  through.  It  was  composed  of  black  loam  with 
oyster  shells  scattered  here  and  there  and  contained  several  local  layers  of  shell. 
The  central  portion  of  the  mound,  with  an  average  diameter  of  24  feet,  was  a  solid 
mass  of  oyster  shells  from  the  surface  down  to  a  thin  stratum  of  black  loam  from  (> 
to  12  inches  in  thickness.  Beneath  was  undisturbed  grayish-white  sand.  At  the 
center  of  the  mound  this  mass  of  shell  was  2  feet  thick.  Marginal  pits  filled  with 
black  midden  refuse  and  containing  no  burials,  were  present. 

Human  remains  in  fairly  good  condition  were  met  with  at  fourteen  points 
— one  deposit  of  calcined  remains  and  thirteen  skeletons.  The  skeletons,  head 
ing  in  all  directions,  were  flexed  on  the  right,  on  the  left,  or  with  trunk  on  back  and 
lower  extremities  to  the  right  or  to  the  left.  The  calcined  remains  were  a  layer  at 
the  bottom  of  a  pit  extending  18  inches  into  undisturbed  sand  with  fragments  of 
charcoal  above  it.  Completely  covering  the  area  where  the  pit  entered  the  undis 
turbed  sand,  was  a  layer  of  four  thicknesses  of  large  cord-marked  sherds. 

Away  from  human  remains  was  the  skeleton  of  a  dog,  the  principal  parts  of 
which  were  forwarded  by  us  to  Professor  Putnam. 

By  the  cranium  of  a  child  was  a  practically  undecorated  pot.  imperforate.  with 
inverted  rim,  in  the  shape  of  an  inverted  cone  with  rounded  apex,  or  of  an  acorn 
with  blunted  point.  Diameter  of  aperture,  4  inches  ;  maximum  diameter,  o  inches  ; 
height,  4.8  inches  (Fig.  75). 

Scattered  sherds  were  practically  unrepresented  in  the  mound.  A  mass  of 
stone,  probably  amphibolic  gneiss,  pitted,  and  used  as  a  smoothing  stone,  lay  loose 
in  the  sand. 

On  the  surface,  near  Mound  A,  lay  a  rude  implement,  probably  of  amphibolic 
gneiss,  about  4  inches  in  length,  somewhat  resembling  in  form  a  hoe-shaped  imple 
ment,  or  spud.  It  is  much  chipped  at  the  edge,  having  probably  seen  service  as  a 
hoe.  It  bears  a  longitudinal  groove  showing  secondary  use  as  a  hone. 

OSSABAW  ISLAND,   BKVAN  COUNTY.     BLUFF  FIKLD.  Moi  NI>  B. 

This  mound,  in  the  extreme  S.  W.  part  of  the  field,  had  a  height  of  19  inches. 
A  certain  amount  had  been  ploughed  away.  No  previous  investigation  was  reported 
or  noted. 

A  diameter  of  40  feet  was  taken,  and  the  circumference  dug  through,  including 
we  believe,  considerably  more  than  the  mound.  It  was  composed  of  black  loamy 


132  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA   COAST. 

sand  with  oyster  shells  scattered  throughout.  Toward  the  center  the  shells  became 
more  numerous  but  were  not  in  a  compact  mass.  From  what  seemed  to  be  the 
center  of  the  surface  of  the  mound  to  undisturbed  sand  was  26  inches. 

Sherds  were  of  very  infrequent  occurrence,  none  bearing  the  complicated  stamp. 

The  mound,  in  swampy  ground,  contained  human  remains  at  six  points,  all 
badly  decayed. 

Burial  No.  1,  3  feet  W.  of  center,  just  beneath  the  surface,  was  a  small  pocket 
of  scattered  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones  with  charcoal  at  either  extremity. 


Fig.  75. — Vessel  of  earthenware.     Mound  A,  Bluff  Field.     (Full  size.) 

Burial  No.  2,  in  a  central  position  in  the  mound,  on  the  bottom  of  a  pit  29 
inches  deep  and  extending  10  inches  into  undisturbed  sand,  was  a  deposit  of  calcined 
fragments  of  human  bones,  14  by  18  inches,  and  4  to  6  inches  in  thickness.  At 
either  side,  and  above  this  deposit,  was  charcoal.  At  its  outer  margin  was  a  pebble- 
hammer  of  quartz  and  a  small  chisel  of  greenstone.  A  little  farther  in,  resting  on 
its  imperforate  base,  was  an  undecorated  bowl,  with  a  slightly  inverted  rim,  having 
a  diameter  at  mouth  of  5.3  inches,  a  maximum  diameter  of  6  inches  and  a  height 
of  2.8  inches.  Upright  within  this  was  a  curious  little  imperforate,  undecorated 
vessel.  Disimeter  of  mouth,  2.3  inches ;  maximum  diameter,  3  inches ;  height,  2.4 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE   GEORGIA   COAST.   133 


inches  (Fig.  70).  Beneath  the  larger  vessel  was  a  tobacco  pipe  of  earthenware, 
having  the  usual  curious  chipping  on  the  stein,  3.4  inches  in  length;  diameter  of 
howl,  1.3  inches  (Fig.  77).  On  the  upper  surface  of  the  deposit  lay  a  neatly  shaped 
arrowhead  of  chert. 

Burial   No.   3,  3   feet  N.  E.,  3  feet  from  the  surface,  .on  the   bottom  of  a   pit 
extending  1(1  inches  into  undisturbed  sand  and  having  a  diameter  of  3  feet  4  inches 

at  its  line  of  junction  with  the 
body  of  the  mound,  consisted  of 
the  bones  of  a  small  child  in  frag 
ments  through  decay.  Surround 
ing  sand  was  tinged  with  hematite. 
In  contact  with  this  skeleton 
was  another,  also  of  a  young  child, 
equally  fragmentary,  the  legs 
extending  up  along  the  side  of  the 
pit.  Above  this  skeleton  was  a 
layer  of  sherds  three  and  four 
thick.  Beneath  both  skeletons 
was  charcoal. 

Burial  No.  4,  2  feet  N..  in  a 
grave  with  its  base  33  inches  from 
the  surface,  and  2  feet  in  diameter 
where  it  entered  the  undisturbed 
sand,  into  which  it  ran  14  inches, 
was  the  skeleton  of  a  child  about  5  years  of  age,  Hexed  on  the  right  side,  heading  W. 
Directly  N.  on  the  same  plane,  were  the  skeletal  remains  of  a  child  about  3 
years  of  age,  Hexed  on  the  back,  heading  W. 

Burial  No.  5,  G  feet  N.  W.,  30  inches  down,  just  let  into  undisturbed  sand,  was 
a  skeleton  of  an  adult  female,  Hexed  on  the  right  side,  head  N.  W. 

Burial  No.  G,  •)  feet  N. 
by  W.,  '1  feet  from  the  sur 
face,  was  the  skeleton  of  a 
young  infant,  unfortunately 
disturbed  by  one  of  our  men 
in  digging. 

This  mound  calls  to 
mind  Mound  A,  of  the  Middle 
Settlement,  in  that  the  skele 
tons  of  adult  males  were 
excluded,  and,  as  in  Mound  A,  calcined  remains  were  present.  These  remains 
included  adult  skeletons,  but  whether  male  or  female  we  are  unable  to  state. 
Another  curious  feature  of  this  mound  was  the  central  position  of  burials. 

I 

17  JOURX.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


Fig   7(i.— Vessel  of  earthenware.     Mound  B,  Bl tiff  Field.     I  Full  size.) 


Fig.  77. — Tobacco  pipe  of  earthenware.    Mound  B.  Blurt' Field.    (Full  size.) 


134  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

OSSABAW  ISLAND,   BRYAN  COUNTY.     BLUFF  FIELD,  MOUND  C. 

This  mound,  in  a  portion  of  the  field  used  for  the  cultivation  of  rice,  lay  in  low 
ground  which  was  drained  by  us  before  proceeding  to  investigate,  and  even  then  the 
presence  of  water  was  a  hindrance.  The  mound,  which  had  been  much  dug  into  by 
negroes  living  on  the  island,  was  about  150  yards  N.  of  Mound  B  and  had  a  height 
of  30  inches,  which  in  no  wise  represented  its  original  altitude.  A  diameter  of  50 
feet,  which  more  than  included  the  mound,  was  taken,  and  the  circumference  dug 
through  with  the  exception  of  where  a  former  trench  had  been  excavated. 

The  mound  offered  no  structural  feature  of  interest.  Sherds  were  fairly 
abundant,  the  majority  decorated  with  trje  complicated  stamp. 

A  mass  of  coral,  about  thrice  the  size  of  a  clenched  hand,  lay  unassociated. 

With  no  interment,  but  doubtless  belonging  to  one  previously  removed,  were  a 
number  of  shell  beads. 

A  grooved  pebble-hammer  and  one-half  of  a  sandstone  hone  lay  separately, 
loose  in  the  sand.  A  portion  of  a  tobacco  pipe,  with  projecting  knobs  upon  the 
bowl,  came  from  midden  refuse. 

In  the  entire  mound  human  remains  were  met  with  at  but  three  points. 

Burial  No.  1,  Vessel  A,  the  lower  portion  of  a  large  imperforate  vessel  with 
complicated  stamp,  the  upper  part  plowed  away,  filled  with  calcined  human  bones. 
With  them  were  :  a  chert  nodule  ;  an  oblong  piece  of  chert,  showing  a  certain 
amount  of  chipping ;  a  fragment  of  chert ;  and  part  of  a  lance  head  of  the  same 
material. 

Burial  No.  2,  5  feet  W.,  1  foot  down,  on  the  bottom  of  a  small  pit  was  a  deposit 
of  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones,  1.5  inches  thick  at  the  start,  18  inches  across 
and  extending  inward  17  inches  where  it  attained  a  thickness  of  3  inches.  Above 
a  portion  of  this  deposit  were  a  number  of  good  sized  fragments  from  several 
vessels.  The  decoration  on  two  sherds  was  of  interest.  On  one  (Fig.  78),  in  relief, 
was  an  encircled  point,  sometimes  an  emblem  of  the  sun-god,  also  a  symbol  of  the 
Mayas  and  found  in  Europe  on  the  painted  pebbles  of  Mas  d'Azil.1  The  other  is 
shown  in  Fig.  79. 

Professor  Holmes,  "  considering  the  locality,"  is  "  inclined  to  regard  them  as 
merely  ornaments  or  parts  of  patterns." 

Thomas  Wilson,  Esq.,  writes  of  them  as  follows : 
"  The  signs  or  marks  which  you  have  found  on  the  pottery  in  : 
Georgia,  and  about  which  you  wrote  me,  have  been  noticed  by  me  during  my  inves 
tigations  of  the  Swastika  sign.     But  I  have  never  been  able  to  find  any  connection 
between  them  and  the  Swastika,  nor  to  find  them  in  such  association  as  to  induce 
me  to  believe  that  they  had  either  a  symbolic  or  ideographic  character,  or  were  other 
than  the  mere  decoration  or  ornamentation  which  we  find  in  so  many  hundreds  of 
other  forms  on  the  respective  implements  and  objects  of  prehistoric  times." 
Professor  Putnam  takes  a  different  view.     He  says : 

1  Of,  and  after,  the  period  of  the  reindeer.     "  Les  Galets  Calorie*  du Mas  d'Azil."     L'Anthropo- 
%(V  (supplement).     Juillet-Aoilt,  1896.     PI.  XI,  Fig.  9. 


CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL    MOUNDS   OF    THE    GEORGIA    COAST  13-3 


Fig.  78.— Sherd,  Mound  B,  BliiH'  Field.     (Full  size.) 


"As  to  the  circle  with  the  dot,  there  can  hardly  be  a  doubt  that  it  is  a  sun 
symbol.  Of  course  in  the  minds  of  some  persons  this  would  simply  be  a  circle  with 
a 'dot  in  it,  a  mere  decoration  without  any  particular  meaning;  but  I  have  long 

been  convinced  that  in  the  develop 
ment  of  American  art,  after  passing 
through  the  realistic  stage,  conven 
tionalized  forms  were  used,  and  at 
this  period  of  development,  symbol 
ism  became  a  marked  feature  in  cer 
tain  regions.  Finally  the  spaces 
around  the  essential  figure  or  symbol 
were  sometimes  filled  up  at  the  fancy 
of  the  artist;  the  main  point  in  all 
higher  decoration  being  the  expres 
sion  of  a  thought  by  a  convention 
alized  form  or  sacred  symbol. 
''  The  sun  symbol,  we  may  say,  is  cosmopolitan.  It  is  widely  expressed  by  a 
simple  circle  or  a  circle  with  a  central  dot.  In  this  connection  I  call  your  attention 
to  the  paper  by  Mr.  Willoughby  and  myself  entitled  '  Symbolism  in  Ancient 
American  Art,'  and  a  more  recent 
paper  following  out  the  same 
line  of  thought,  written  by  Mr. 
Willoughby  and  entitled  :  '  An 
Analysis  of  Decorations  Upon  Pot 
tery  from  the  Mississippi  Valley.' 
The  perusal  of  this  paper  will,  I 
think,  convince  you  that  the  decor 
ations  consisting  of  circles,  crosses 
and  scrolls  are  really  the  more  or 
less  conventionalized  rendering  of 
certain  symbols.  You  will  notice 
this  circle  and  dot  combined  with 
the  swastika-like  figure  of  the  four 
winds  in  Fig.  11  of  Mr.  Willough- 
by's  paper,  and  you  will  find  the 
sun  svmbol  in  various  connections 

»/ 

shown  in  many  of  the  figures ; 
also  in  some  of  the  figures  in  our 
joint  paper  on  '  Symbolism.' 

"  The  peculiar  Z-shaped  figure 

with  the  two  dots  probably  has  the  same  meaning  as  the  swastika,  or  being  a  half 
swastika  as  Mr.  Willoughby  says,  it  probably  indicates  a  gentle  wind  or  breath,  in 
other  words,  life.  This  is  the  actual  meaning  of  the  symbol  as  used  among  some 


Fig.  TO.— Sherd,  Mound  B,  Bluff  Field.     (Full  size.) 


136  CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST. 

of  the  Pueblo  tribes.  You  will  find  this  same  Z-shaped  figure  in  the  center  of  a 
design,  representing  a  woman,  drawn  by  the  Molds,  in  Mallory's  paper,  page  705  of 
the  Report  of  the  Bureau  of  Ethnology,  1888-89.  In  this,  however,  the  two  dots  are 
not  represented.  I  know  of  only  one  other  example  like  yours,  and  that  is  shown 
on  a  small  human  figure  carved  in  ivory  from  a  mound  in  Ohio.  This  figure  is 
represented  with  some  sort  of  decoration  over  the  chest  and  on  that  decoration  is 
carved  the  Z-shaped  design  with  the  two  dots  as  shown  on  your  potsherd." 

Burial  No.  3,  Vessel  B,  4  feet  W.  N.  W.,  approximately  the  lower  third  of  a 
large  imperforate  vessel,  the  remainder  of  which  had  been  ploughed  away.  Within 
were  fragments  of  calcined  human  bones  and  26  barrel-shaped  beads  of  shell, 
remarkably  well  preserved,  the  largest  about  .75  of  one  inch  in  length. 

The  Cabbage-Garden  and  the  Long-Field,  neighboring  tracts,  were  carefully 
searched  for  mounds  without  success,  though  shell  heaps  were  abundant.  A  number 
of  these  were  investigated  without  results  of  especial  interest. 

SKIDDAWAY  ISLAND,  CHATHAM  COUNTY.     THIRD  SETTLEMENT,  MOUND  A. 

This  mound,  in  a  field  long  under  cultivation,  leased  by  Fanny  Johnston,  colored, 
in  the  Third  Settlement,  scarcely  rose  above  the  general  level.  Its  diameter  was 
estimated  at  74  feet ;  a  section  line  extending  E.  S.  E.  and  W.  N.  W.  was  run 
through  what  seemed  to  be  the  center  of  the  mound  and  the  half  to  the  south  was 
dug  through.  There  was  no  sign  of  previous  investigation.  The  usual  pits  and 
graves  were  present. 

In  the  half  of  the  mound  investigated,  human  remains  were  met  with  at 
twenty-seven  points  as  follows  :  four  pockets  of  calcined  remains  ;  four  late  disturb 
ances  ;  one  not  determined  ;  eighteen  skeletons. 

Of  the  18  skeletons  :  two  were  at  full  length  on  back ;  nine  at  full  length  on 
face ;  four  were  flexed  on  the  left  side ;  one  flexed,  face  down  ;  while  one,  with  the 
trunk  on  back,  had  the  legs  partly  flexed ;  one  was  in  a  sitting  position,  with  the 
head  crushed  down  on  the  pelvis. 

Excluding  the  burial  in  a  sitting  position  the  skeletons  headed :  E.,  1 ;  E.  by 
N.,  2;  N.  E.  by  E.,  1  ;  N.  E.,  3;  N.  N.  W.,  2;  N.  W.,  1  ;  W.  S.  W.,  2;  S.  W.,  1; 
S.  E.  by  S.,  1;  S.  E.,  2 ;  E.  S.  E.,  1. 

The  five  flexed  burials,  however,  headed  between  S.  E.  and  W.  S.  W. 

Sherds  were  rarely  met  with  in  the  mound.  None  of  complicated  stamp  Avas 
present. 

Near  a  burial  was  part  of  a  gracefully  shaped  hammer  of  quartzite  and  a 
pebble-hammer. 

With  another  burial  were  six  pebble-hammers  of  quartz,  one  smoothing  stone 
and  hematite. 

Several  fragmentary  implements  of  stone  and  one  bone  piercing  implement 
were  met  with. 

A  fact  carefully  noted  by  us,  all  through  our  investigation  of  the  Georgia  Coast, 


CERTAIN   ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE   GEORGIA  COAST.  l:-J7 

but  not  referred  to  until  its  close,  namely,  the  utter  absence  of  artifacts  with  burials 
at  length,  was  again  emphasized  in  this  mound.  Though  as  a  rule,  extended  burials 
lay  near  the  base,  on  it  or  below  it,  and  often  great  pits  had  been  made  for  their 
accommodation,  yet  associated  artifacts  were  always  wranting.  As  a  rule,  calcined 
deposits  not  enclosed  in  cinerary  urns  and  masses  of  bones  not  in  anatomical  order 
were  the  most  favored  in  respect  to  art-relics,  though  Hexed  burials  were  not 
entirely  neglected. 

SKIDDAWAV  ISLAND,  CHATHAM  COUNTY.     TIMHD  SETTLEMENT.  MOUND  15. 

What  the  plow  had  spared  of  this  mound  lay  in  a  cultivated  field  about  MOO 
yards  N.  of  Mound  A.  Its  height  was  about  IS  inches.  Oyster  shells  were  scattered 
on  its  surface  and  throughout  the  adjacent  field.  A  diameter  of  (10  feet  was  taken 
and  the  eastern  half  completely  dug  through.  Marginal  pits  filled  with  refuse  were 
present.  Local  layers  of  oyster  shells  and  the  usual  grave-pits  were  met  with. 
One1  grave  extended  4  feet  below  the  surface. 

Human  remains,  encountered  at  eleven  points,  included  one  aboriginal  disturb 
ance  and  three  inadvertently  dug  into  by  men  in  our  employ.  The  remaining  seven 
are  given  in  detail. 

Burial  No.  1,  female  in  kneeling  position,  leaning  forward,  head  N.  E. 

Burial  No.  3,  male  in  sitting  position,  facing  N.      Head  crushed  almost  to  pelvis. 

Burial  No.  5,  13  feet  N.  E.,  child  from  3  to  5  years  of  age.  in  sitting  position, 
facing  E. 

Burial  No.  (>,  child  about  six  years  old,  apparently  flexed  on  right  side,  head  S. 

Burial  No.  7.  skeleton  of  uncertain  sex  in  a  sitting  position,  facing  about 
S.  S.  W.,  tilted  against  one  side  of  the  pit. 

Burial  No.  8,  skeleton  of  male,  kneeling  and  crooked  forward,  head  N.  W. 

Burial  No.  11,  skeleton  of  adolescent  Hexed  on  left  side,  head  S.  E. 

Several  pebble-hammers  were  met  with. 

Earthenware  of  the  complicated  stamp  was  wanting. 

SKIDDAVVAY  ISLAND,  CHATHAM  COUNTY.     NORTH-END  SETTLEMENT. 

This  mound,  in  a  field  formerly  under  cultivation,  about  1.25  miles  in  a  S.  S.  W. 
direction  from  the  northern  end  of  -the  island,  had  sustained  a  certain  amount  of 
previous  investigation.  Its  height  wras  2  feet;  its  diameter,  apparently  about  45 
feet.  The  mound  was  completely  dug  down  bv  us. 

Several  skeletons  offering  no  points  of  especial  interest  and  the  lower  part  of  a 
vessel  of  the  ordinary  type  were  met  with.  The  upper  part  of  this  vessel  had  been 
ploughed  away  and  lost.  Near  by  lay  one  fragment  of  a  calcined  bone. 

No  artifacts  of  interest  were  found. 

REMARKS. 

The  mounds  of  the  Georgia  coast,  as  judged  by  their  contents,  lead  us  to  believe 
them  to  have  been  relics  of  a  race  ill  supplied  with  stone,  almost  without  copper, 


138  CERTAIN    ABORIGINAL   MOUNDS   OF   THE  GEORGIA  COAST. 

but  given  to  the  manufacture  of  earthenware,  which,  however,  lacked  diversity 
of  type. 

The  builders  of  these  tumuli  differed  markedly  from  the  aborigines  of  Florida 
in  their  method  of  constructing  many  of  their  mounds,  in  possessing  a  totally 
different  type  of  tobacco  pipe,  in  the  absence  of  mortuary  earthenware  with  ready- 
made  perforation  in  the  base. 

They  coincided,  however,  in  the  absence  of  the  grooved  axe  and  of  the  mortar 
made  of  stone.  In  both  sections  this  utensil  was  probably  of  wood,  as  are  some 
along  the  Georgia  coast  at  the  present  time. 

In  mortuary  methods  we  note  a  striking  difference  between  the  mound-makers 
of  the  Georgia  coast  and  their  neighbors  to  the  south.  In  Florida,  cremation, 
though  practised,  was  by  no  means  carried  to  so  great  an  extent  as  on  the  coast  of 
Georgia,  while,  to  the  best  of  our  belief,  placing  of  cremated  remains  in  cinerary 
urns  and  uncremated  skeletal  remains  in  jars  was  unknown  in  Florida.1 

A  point  of  interest,  as  illustrating  diversity  of  custom  in  neighboring  localities, 
is  that  when  jars  were  used  for  uncremated  remains,  infants  exclusively  were  selected 
in  some  localities,  as  at  Creighton  Island,  and  at  Ossabaw  Island,  and  adults  in 
others,  as  at  Sapelo  Island,  and  at  St.  Catherine's  Island  with  one  exception. 

Another  feature  of  interest  was  the  occasional  occurrence  of  mounds  in  which 
the  skeletal  burials  were  those  of  women  and  children  exclusively.  But  the  most 
striking  feature  of  all  and  one  for  which  we  vainly  seek  a  solution  is  the  use  in  the 
same  mound  of  forms  of  burial  so  varied,  varieties  of  inhumation  and  of  cremation 
lying  side  by  side. 

We  are  told  by  Cabeca  de  Vaca,2  who,  as  the  reader  recalls,  crossed  from  Florida 
to  Mexico  comparatively  early  in  the  sixteenth  century,  that  certain  aborigines  of 
northwest  Florida  burned  the  remains  of  their  doctors  while  burying  those  of  all 
others.  Here  we  see  a  distinction  in  form  of  burial,  which,  however,  cannot  apply 
to  the  Georgia  coast,  for  even  had  physicians  been  proportionately  as  numerous  in 
former  times  as  they  are  at  present,  still  the  percentage  of  cremations  in  the  coast 
mounds  is  too  great  to  consider  these  cremations  the  remains  of  medicine-men  alone. 
Besides,  as  we  have  seen,  cremated  remains  of  infants  are  met  with  on  the  Georgia 
coast. 

In  conclusion,  we  call  the  attention  of  the  reader  to  mortuary  customs  across 
the  sea  in  former  times,  so  ably  presented  by  the  Marquis  de  Nadaillac  in  the 
succeeding  paper,  "  Inhumation  and  Incineration  in  Europe." 

1  Colonel  C.  C.  Jones  (op.  cit.  page  456),  refers  to  urn-burial  in  Florida.     We  think  this  accom 
plished  writer,  who  did  little  work  in  that  State,  must  have  accepted  erroneous  information.     Vessels 
buried  beside  skeletons  often  receive  a  certain  number  of  bones  from  them,  a  fact  which  may  have 
misled  investigators  as  to  urn-burial  in  Florida. 

2  "  It  is  their  custom  to  bury  the  dead,  unless  it  be  those  among  them  who  have  been  physicians, 
and  those  they  burn."     The  Narrative  of  Alvar  Nuile/i  Cabe<;a  de  Vaca,  translated  by  Buckingham 
iSmith.     Washington,  1851,  page  49. 


INHUMATION    AND    INCINERATION    IN    EUROPE. 
BY  THE  MARQUIS  DK  NADAII.I.AC.' 

All  known  facts  show  that  in  Em-opt'  inhumation  and  incineration,  two  such 
different  methods  of  disposing  of  the1  human  body,  were  in  use  at  the  same  time 
among  the  same  peoples  during  the  age  of  iron,  the  age  of  bronze  and,  in  some  cases, 
even  during  the  neolithic  period. 

The  Iberians,  the  oldest  inhabitants  of  Western  Europe,  buried  their  dead  and 
punished  notable  criminals  by  the  cremation  of  their  bodies. 

The  Cauls  burnt  slaves,  dependents  and  horses  that  they  might  follow  their 
master  into  the  life  beyond.2 

In  the  glorious  days  of  Rome  cremation  was  general.  In  the  eyes  of  the 
aristocracy,  however,  the  destruction  of  the  human  body  by  lire  was  a  humiliation. 
By  burial  this  aristocracy  distinguished  itself  from  the  lower  classes  and  from  peoples 
subjected  by  conquest.  We  know  that  Sj'lla,  of  the  illustrious  Cornelia  gens,  was  the 
first  of  his  race  to  be  cremated. 

It  is  now  generally  admitted  that  the  rapid  extension  of  cremation  was  due  to 
the  Celts.  We  find  it  from  Greece  to  England,  from  Etruria  to  Poland  and  Russia. 
Bodies  were  burnt  and  those  who  were  not  rich  enough  to  have  the  entire  body 
cremated,  contented  themselves  with  burning  the  head  and  the  arms — hence  partial 
cremation.3 

But  everywhere  the  two  rites  are  side  by  side.  Here,  inhumation  is  the  most 
employed ;  there,  cremation.  Why  this  difference  among  the  same  people,  at  the 
same  epoch,  in  the  same  place  of  sepulture?  Does  it  imply  a  diversity  of  origin, 
of  caste,  of  social  or  religious  condition  ? 

The  answer  to  this  question  is  impossible  in  our  present  state  of  knowledge. 
Moreover,  it  should  be  different  according  to  the  country,  the  people,  the  epoch 
under  consideration.  Everywhere  different  influences  have  acted  under  different 
surroundings. 

Brittany  offers  a  striking  example.  The  dolmen  of  Mt.  St.  Michel  and  the 
dolmen  of  Tumiac  are  but  a  short  distance  apart;  both  date  from  the  neolithic 
period  ;  they  were  built  by  the  same  race,  probably  during  the  same  epoch.  At  St. 
Michel  we  find  incineration ; 4  at  Tumiac,  inhumation.5 

1  Translated  by  C.  B.  Moore. 

1  Caesar,  De  hello  Galileo,  L.  VI,  C.  XIX ;  L.  I,  C.  XIV ;  L.  VII,  C.  III. 

''  Handbueh  der  Dentschen  Mythologie — d'Arbois  de  Jubainville,  Rev.  Arch.  1891,  Mar. — Aju-il. 

*  R.  Galles,  Rapport  sur  les  foullles  du  Mont  St.  Michel  en  Canute. 

5  L.  (Jalles,  Fouille*  du  tumulus  de  Tumiac  en  Arzon. 


140  INHUMATION    AND   INCINERATION    IN    EUROPE. 

M.  du  Chatelier  takes  us  to  the  other  extremity  of  Brittany.  Out  of  145 
megaliths,  dating  from  the  stone  age,  he  reports  20  inhumations,  7 "2  cremations,  31 
containing  charcoal  alone.  In  22  no  conclusions  were  possible. 

We  see  a  similar  state  of  affairs  near  the  town  of  Reims,  in  the  Puy  du  Dome,1 
in  the  Marne  and  in  a  number  of  other  of  the  French  Departments.  The  rule  is 
not  universal,  however.  At  Calvisson  (Gard),  for  instance,  we  find  neolithic  burials 
embracing  cremation  only.2 

In  Scotland  we  are  able  to  cite  only  the  celebrated  cairns  of  Caithness.  In 
them  at  the  same  time  are  met  with,  without  a  clue  to  explain  such  characteristic 
differences,  the  burial  at  length ;  the  skeleton  flexed  upon  itself;  and  cremation. 

In  Italy  results  are  startling.  "  When  you  find,"  says  Baron  de  Duhn,3  u  the 
two  forms  of  sepulture  together,  it  is  because  two  populations  were  living  side  by 
side,  and  the  predominance  of  one  or  of  the  other  indicates  that  of  the  population 
practising  the  prevailing  rite."  In  Italy,  inhumation  was  practised  at  first;  incin 
eration  appears  with  bronze ;  next  inhumation  returns  with  the  oldest  Etruscans. 
Incontestable  proofs  of  this  have  been  found  at  Alba,  at  Chiusi,  at  Pisa  and  at 
different  points  in  upper  Italy.  At  Felsina,  the  ancient  metropolis  of  the  Etruscans, 
the  present  Bologna,  burials  by  incineration  and  burials  by  inhumation  were  con 
temporary.  A  like  state  of  affairs  existed  at  Certosa,  at  Marzabotto,  at  Villanova. 
In  the  necropolis  of  Villanova  inhumations  predominate ; 4  at  Marzabotto  the  two 
forms  are  of  equal  occurrence.5 

Various  Austrian  provinces  furnish  indisputable  evidence.  At  Santa  Lucia ; 
at  Rosegg,  in  the  Drave  valley ;  at  Rovische,  in  the  Basse  Carniole ;  at  Vermo,  in 
Styria ;  at  Watsch ;  at  San  Margarethen ;  and  especially  at  Hallstatt,  which  has 
given  its  name  to  a  period  whose  beginning  dates  back  2000  years  at  least  before 
our  era ;  we  constantly  see  the  two  rites  in  concurrent  use.6  The  relationship 
between  them  varies  only  according  to  localities.  At  Watsch,  for  instance,  with 
200  tombs  where  incineration  was  employed,  there  were  hardly  a  dozen  where 
skeletons  were  found.  But  nothing  would  seem  to  indicate  that  these  latter  were 
destined  for  people  of  a  lower  class ;  while  they  were  not  protected  by  great  slabs 
of  stone  like  the  others,  their  mortuary  equipment  was  richer  and  the  objects  of 
bronze  gave  evidence  of  a  higher  art.7  At  Rovische  researches  yield  at  times  quad 
rangular  cases  of  stone  each  enclosing  an  urn  filled  with  the  ashes  of  the  dead,  or 
a  skeleton  stretched  at  full  length,  the  head  to  the  east,  with  an  urn  at  its  feet, 
clasps  on  the  chest,  rings  on  the  fingers.  At  Santa  Lucia,  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Idria,  at  its  point  of  union  with  the  Isonzo,  1200  tombs,  previously  unopened, 

1  Cartailhac,  Mat.  pour  I' hist,  de  I'homme,  t.  IV,  lre  Scrie,  p.  267;  t.  XII,  2"  S.,  p.  145. 

'  Ass.  Scient.  de  France,  Marseille,  1891. 

1  Remarques  sur  la  question  Etrusque,  Berlin,  1890. 

4  Count  Conestahile,  Rev.  Arch.,  t.  XXVIII,  pp.  2f>:j,  320. 

5  Count  Gozzadini,  Atti  e  Memorie  di  Storia  de/l'  Emilia,  nuova  seria,  t.  VI,  p.  1. 

6  Hochstetter,  Die  neueste  Griiberfunde  vox,  Watech  mid  S.  Margarethen  mid  der  Culturkreise 
der  IlalUntten  Periode. 

'  Notably  there  have  been  found  many  siiitlie  and  plates  from  sword  belts,  bearing  in  repousse 
military,  religions,  or  civil  scenes,  a  regular  album  of  the  persons  buried.  A.  Bertram!,  Les  Celtes  dans 
le*  Vallees  du  l'<>  et  dn  Danube. 


INHUMATION   AND   INCINERATION   IN   EUROPE.  141 

were  discovered.     Incineration  had  been  employed  in  them  in  by  far  the  greatest 
number.1 

Investigations  were  begun  at  Ilallstatt  in  1840.  Nowhere,  according  to  Baron 
de  Sacken,  who  for  a  long  time  directed  the  work,  has  there  been  observed  in  the 
same  region  modes  of  burial  so  diverse  and  in  part  so  remarkable — the  incineration 
of  bodies,  the  mingling  in  the  same  tomb  of  bodies  burnt  and  bodies  buried— 
nowhere  in  fine  has  there  been  observed  on  so  great  a  scale  a  mixture  of  types 
belonging  more  particularly  to  the  bronze  and  to  the  iron  age.  According  to  the 
latest  information  we  learn  that  993  tombs  have  been  searched.  Of  these  527  show 
burials,  453  cremations.  The  funeral  tr&ppingg  were  well  preserved  as  a  rule. 
There  were  discovered  640  objects  in  gold,  5574  in  bronze,  593  in  iron,  270  in  amber, 
73  in  glass,  1243  in  terra  cotta.-  In  those  tombs  in  which  burial  was  practised  tin- 
dead  were  laid  out  clothed  in  their  garments. 

If  we  look  toward  Germany  we  see  similar  cases.  In  tumuli  near  the  lakes 
of  Ammer  and  of  Staffel,  in  upper  Bavaria,  which  are  of  the  later  Ilallstatt  period, 
we  find,  out  of  121  tombs,  44  given  to  incineration,  18  to  inhumation,  and  59  which 
show  no  trace  of  bones  or  of  fire,  though  they  contain  the  same  mortuary  deposits 
as  the  others.  Later,  in  tombs  attributed  to  the  iron  age,  all  the  bodies  are  cremated. 

In  Hesse,  Thuringia,  Franconia,  in  the  countries  forming  the  extreme  west  of 
Germany,  inhumation  was  the  general  rule  during  the  entire  stone  age.3  In  Meck- 
lemburg — an  exception,  no  other  example  of  which  I  know — men  were  buried, 
women  incinerated. 

In  the  tombs  of  Prussia  and  of  the  grand  duchy  of  Posen  the  presence  of 
skeletons  and  of  urns  filled  with  ashes  proves  the  existence  at  the  same  time  of  the 
two  methods  of  disposing  of  the  dead.4  The  tumuli  of  eastern  Prussia,  notably 
those  of  Birkenhof,  tell  a  different  story.  They  enclose  a  varying  number  of  stone 
cysts  containing  urns  with  incinerated  bones.  Each  cyst  was  surrounded  by  a 
circle  of  stones,  and  often  a  larger  circle  of  stones  on  end  encircled  several  cysts. 
These  urns,  made  without  the  use  of  the  potter's  wheel,  frequently  had  two  handles. 
Investigation  yielded  many  objects  in  amber,  but  on  the  other  hand  articles  of 
bronze,  and  of  iron  especially,  were  of  the  greatest  rarity.5 

Scandinavia  shows  a  duplication  of  the  points  noted  in  the  north  of  Germany. 
At  divers  places  are  remarked  the  simultaneous  use  of  the  burial  rite  and  of 
destruction  by  fire.6 

In  Bosnia  the  gromilas,  or  tumuli,  go  back  to  the  Ilallstatt  period.  Cremation, 
however,  is  rare.  Of  140  tumuli  recently  investigated,  but  11  showed  complete 
incineration,  and  18,  where  the  burning  was  partial.  In  all  the  others  the  body  had 
been  buried.7 

1  Hoehstetter,  VII  Ber'wht  der  Prdhistorischen  Commission.     Wien,  1884. 

"  Mltth.  der  Anthrop.   Gexellscha/t  In  Wien  1887-8.     Dr.  tLernes,  Revue  d'  Anth.     May,  1889. 
A.  Bertrand,  Rev.  d'Ethn.  1883. 

3  W.  Schmidt,  Cong.  Anth.  de  Paris,  1878,  pp.  285-7. 

4  Kohn  u.  Mehlis,  Materialen  zur  Vorgeschichte  des  Menschen  in  Ostlichen  Europa. 
»  O.  Tischler,  Ostyreusiche  Grabhugel. 

6  W.  Schmidt,  /.  c. 

'  Fouilles  des  galgdls  p  re  hint,  de  Grassinac,  L'Anthropologie  1896,  p.  213. 

18  JOUEN.  A.  N.  S.  PHILA.,  VOL.  XI. 


142  INHUMATION    AND   INCINERATION   IN    EUROPE. 

Research  in  different  portions  of  Russia  leads  to  the  same  conclusions.  Mr. 
Radimski  has  opened  530  graves  in  the  necropolis  of  Jezerina.  Three-fifths  showed 
incineration  ;  but  everywhere  the  two  rites  were  apparent  in  neighboring  tombs  and 
sometimes  even  in  the  same  one.  The  majority  of  mortuary  deposits  belong  to  the 
epoch  of  la  Tene,  but  some  were  of  the  date  of  Hallstatt  and  even  of  the  Roman 
period.1 

The  results  obtained  by  Mr.  Zavinetvich  in  the  province  of  Minsk,  White 
Russia,  show  that  inhumation  predominated  with  increasing  ratio  in  proportion  as 
one  approached  the  Dnieper.2 

In  the  country  formerly  belonging  to  the  Jadzvinques  the  presence  of  the  two 
mortuary  rites  is  noted.3 

In  all  Europe  we  are  confronted  with  two  very  different  forms  of  sepulchral 
rites.  We  cannot  tell  their  origin,  we  know  only  that  cremation  by  degrees 
disappeared  before  the  progress  of  Christianity.  Complete  discontinuance,  however, 
was  slow,  for  we  have  an  edict  of  Charlemagne,  of  the  year  789,  punishing  with 
death  those  who  continued  to  burn  their  dead  according  to  the  pagan  custom. 

1  L'Anthropologie,  1894,  pp.  472-K. 

2  Karon  cle  Baye,  Cougres  de  Wilna,  1893. 
5  Cone/res  de  Moscou,  1892,  p.  233. 


INDEX. 


Aboriginal  enclosure,  Sapelo  Is 
land,  71 

Age,  determination  of,  8 
Axe  of  steel,  intrusive.  123 

Bahama,  mounds  at,  73 

Hark  or  wood  with  skeletons,  15, 

10,  19,  30,  70,  71 
Hark  or  wood  with  urn-burials, 

59 
Heads  of  shell,  of  unusual  size, 

120 

Bear,  femur  of,  19,  124 
Bluff    Field,    Ossahaw     Island, 

Mound  A,  131 
Bluff    Field,    Ossabaw     Island, 

Mound  B,  131 
Bluff   Field,    Ossabaw     Island, 

Mound  C,  134 
Bone,  37,  65,  111,  122,  123 
Bourbon,     Sapelo    Island,     low 

mound  at,  66 
Bourbon,  Sapelo  Island,  mound 

at,  55 

Broro  Neck,  low  mounds  near,  55 
Brunswick,  mounds  south  of,  15 
"Bunched  "  burial,  6 
Burial,  forms  of,  6 

Cabeca  de  Vaca,  138 

Chisel  of  copper,  41 

Chisels  of  stone,  33 

Contentment,  mound  near,  53 

Cope,  Prof.  E.  D.,  127,  128 

Copper,  10,  13,  20,  25,  26,  41 

Copper  finger- ring,  13 

Creighton  Island,  low  mound  on, 
43 

Creighton  Island,  north  end, 
mound  at,  28 

Cremation  of  physicians  in  Flor 
ida,  138 

Crescent,  mound  near,  44 

Cashing,  Prof.  F.  H.,  89,  108 


Darien,     mounds    in    Lawton's 

Field,  15 
Diseoidal    stones,    southernmost 

occurrence  of,  22 
Diseoidal  stones,  use  of,  33 
Discs  of   earthenware,    34,   38, 

101,  KKi,  112 
Dish  of  unusual  type,  61 
Dogs  accorded  rites  of  sepulture, 

127 
Dogs,  prehistoric,  remark?  as  to, 

127 
Dogs,  skeletons  of,  33,  99,  107, 

118,  119,  120,  121,  122,  126, 

127,  130,  131 

Dumoussay's  Field,  .Sapelo  Is 
land,  mound  in,  67 

Earthenware,  12,  18,  21,  27,  38, 
tiO,  92,  93,  94,  95,  9li,  98,  105, 
111,  123,  132 

Eftigy  of  earthenware,  43 

Effigy  of  soapstone,  65 

Exposure  of  bodies,  10 

Fairview,  low  mound  at,  1(1 
Fairview,  low  mound  near,  1 1 
Femur,  fracture  of,  49 
Finger-ring  of  copper,  13 
"Flexed"  burial,  7 

Glass,  14,  23,  66 

Glazing,    aboriginal,    result    of 

accident,  99 
Gorgets  of  shell,  12,  13,  36,  37, 

63,  70 
Greenseed  Field,  St.  Catherine's 

Island,  mound  in,  86 

Holmes,  Prof.  W.  H.,  69,  134 
Hopkins  Mound,  43 

Incised  basal  decoration  on 
vessel,  69 


Inhumation  and  Incineration  in 

Europe,  139 
Intrusive  objects,  11,  19 

Jaws  of  lower  animals,  ground 

at  base,  65,  88,  1 1 2 
Jones,  Col.  C.  C.,    indebtedness 

to,  6 

King's  New  Ground  Field,  St. 
Catherine's  Island,  mound  in, 

81 

Laurel  View,  mounds  at,  74 
Light-house,  St.  Catherine's  Is 
land,  mound  near,  89 

Map  of  Georgia  coast,  4 

Mercer,  H.  C.,  12H 

Middle     Settlement,      Ossabaw 

Island,  Mound  A,  89 
Middle      Settlement,      Ossabaw 

Island,  Mound  B,  101 
Middle      Settlement.      Ossabaw 

Island,  Mound  C,   109 
Middle      Settlement,      Ossabaw 

Island,  Mound  D,  113 
Middle      Settlement,      Ossabaw 

Island,  Mound  E,  128 
Middle     Settlement,      Ossabaw 

Island,  Mound  F,  130 
Middle    Settlement,     St.    Cath 
erine's  Island,  mound  near,  81 
Miller,  Dr.  M.  G.,  8 
Mortuary  customs  differing  from 

those  of  Florida,  1 38 
Mounds  investigated,  9 

North-end  Settlement,  Skidda- 
way  Island,  137 

North-end,  St.  Catherine's  Is 
land,  low  mounds  at,  89 

Ossabaw  Island,  Bluff  Field, 
Mound  A,  131 


144 


INDEX 


Ossabaw  Island,  Bluff  Field, 
Mound  B,  131 

Ossabaw  Island,  Bluff  Field, 
Mound  C,  134 

Ossabaw  Island,  Middle  Settle 
ment,  Mound  A,  89 

Ossabaw  Island,  Middle  Settle 
ment,  Mound  B,  101 

Ossabaw  Island,  Middle  Settle 
ment,  Mound  C,  109 

Ossabaw  Island,  Middle  Settle 
ment,  Mound  D, 113 

Ossabaw  Island,  Middle  Settle 
ment,  Mound  E,  128 

Ossabaw  Island,  Middle  Settle 
ment,  Mound  F,  130 

Owen's  Ferry,  mound  at,  14 

Passbey  Mound,  23 

Pearls,  37,  44,  64,  112,  121 

Pen-burials,  16 

Pendant  of  shell,  107 

Pendant  of  stone,  44 

Perforation  of  base  of  earthen 
ware,  9 

Perforation  of  shell  drinking 
cups,  19 

Piercing  implements  of  bone, 
111,  122,  123,  130 

Pilastered  femur,  31 

Platycnemic  tibia,  31 

Putnam,  Prof.  F.  W.,  69,  88,  99, 
127,  128,  134 

Pyre,  49 

Remarks,  137 
Runiees,  36 


Sapelo  Island,  Bourbon,  low 
mound  at,  66 

Sapelo  Island,  Bourbon,  mound 
at,  55 

Sapelo  Island,  Dumoussay's 
Field,  mound  in,  67 

Sex,  determination  of,  7 

Sharks'  teeth,  14 

Shark's  tooth,  fossil,  used  as  an 
implement,  108 

Shell,  12,  19,  22,  35,  63,  123 

Shell-heaps,  5 

Shell  Bluff,  mound  at,  26 

Sherds  with  interesting  decora 
tion,  134 

Skeleton  partly  inside  and  partly 
outside,  an  earthenware  vessel, 
70 

Skeletons  with  bark  or  wood,  15, 
16,  19,  30,  70,  71 

Skiddaway    Island,     North-end 

.  Settlement,  137 

Skiddaway  Island,  Third  Settle 
ment,  Mound  A,  136 

Skiddaway  Island,  Third  Settle 
ment,  Mound  B,  137 

South-end  Settlement,  St.  Cath 
erine's  Island,  mound  near,  75 

St.  Catherine's  Island,  low 
mounds  at  the  north-end,  89 

St.  Catherine's  Island,  mound  in 
King's  New  Ground  Field,  81 

St.  Catherine's  Island,  mound  in 
the  Greenseed  Field,  86 

St.  Catherine's  Island,  mound 
near  Middle  Settlement,  81 


St.  Catherine's  Island,  mound 
near  South-end  Settlement,  75 

St.  Catherine's  Island,  mound 
near  the  Light-house,  89 

Stone,  12,  19,  22,  33,  64 

Stopper-shaped  object  of  shell, 
12,  13 

Tablet  of  soapstone,  incised,  65 
"Thicket,  The,"  mounds  near,  24 
Third     Settlement,     Skiddaway 

Island,  Mound  A,  136 
Third     Settlement,     Skiddaway 

Island,  Mound  B,  137 
Tobacco  pipes,  12, 19,  22,  38,  59, 

62,  68,  69,  71,  103,  133,  134 
Tobacco  pipe  of  soapstone,  103 
Townsend  Mound,  20 

Urn-burials,  8,  26,  27,  32,  47, 
51,  54,  55,  59,  60,  68,  69,  70, 
71,  76,  78,  92,  93,  94,  95,  96, 
98,  114,  116,  117,  118,  119, 
120,  121,  124,  125,  126,  134, 
136,  138 

Vessel  containing  part  of  skele 
ton,  the  remainder  outside,  70 

Vessel,  probably  ceremonial,  61 

Vessel  with  three  compartments, 
26 

Vessels  with  handsome,  incised 
decoration,  50,  51 

Walker  Mound,  45 

Wilson,  Thomas,  134 
Woodbine,  mound  near,  11 


JOURN.   ACAD.    NAT.   SCI.    PHILAD.,  2ND   SER.,   VOL.    XI. 


PLATE   I. 


•     ••}!•{}     I   •;. 


MOORE:   GEORGIA  COAST    MOUNDS. 


.   SIZE  ) 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PH1LAD.,    2ND    SER.,    VOL.    XI. 


PLATh    II 


m 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST   MOUNDS. 

VESSEL  c  (BURIAL  20).     MOUND  AT  SMELL  BLUFF      'SEVEN-EIGHTHS  SIZE.* 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PHILAD.,  2ND    SER.,    VOL.    XI. 


PLATE 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST    MOUNDS. 

VESSEL  D  (BURIAL  20A^.         MOUND  AT  SHELL  BLUFF.         (FULL  SIZE.) 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PHILAD.,    aND    SEP.,   VOL.    XI. 


PLATE    IV. 


MOORE:   GEORGIA  COAST   MOUNDS. 

VESSEL   OF    EARTHENWARE.  MOUND    NORTH    END   OF   CREIGHTON    ISLAND.  (FULL    SIZE.) 


;  UNIVE; 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PHILAD.,  aND    SER.,    VOL.    XI. 


PLA  I 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST    MOUNDS. 

CINERARY    URN,     WALKER    MOUND.  (HALF    SIZE.) 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PHILAD.,    2ND    SER..    VOL.    XI. 


PLATE    VI. 


.' 

list 

- 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST   MOUNDS. 


CINERARY    UR 


-'„:-•;:;"•> 

UNIVERSITY    ! 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PH1LAD.,  2ND    SER.,   VOL.    XI. 


PLATE   VII. 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST   MOUNDS. 


BOURBON,    SAPELO    ISLAND.  'FULL    SIZE.) 


;  Y  ] 


JOURN.   ACAD.    NAT.   SCI.    PHILAD.,   2ND   SER.,   VOL.    XI. 


PLATE    VIII. 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST   MOUNDS. 

VESSEL  c  (BURIAL  aeV         MOUND  IN  DUMOUSSAVS  FIELD,   SAPELO  ISLAND.         (THREE-FIFTHS 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PHILAD.,    2ND    SER..    VOL.    XI. 


PLATE    IX 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST   MOUNDS. 

VESSEL    0.  MOUND   A,    MIDDLE   SETTLEMENT,    OSSABAW   ISLAND.  (ABOUT    FIVE-EIGHTS    SIZE.) 


JOURN.   ACAD.    NAT.   SCI.    PHILAD,  aND   -SER.,  VOL.    XI. 


PLATE    X. 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST   MOUNDS. 

VESSEL    RB.  MOUND   A,    MIDDLE    SETTLEMENT,    OSSABAW    ISLAND.  (ABOUT    FOUR-FIFTHS   SIZE.) 


.\B*A  Y>v 
'    \ 
,.\ 

'    I-  '  v  .j/  ,    j      j7 
OF  I 

1>RH\*^/ 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PH1LAD.,    2ND    SER.,    VOL.    XI. 


PLATE    XI. 


MOORE:   GEORGIA  COAST   MOUNDS. 

VESSEL    SB.  MOUND   »,    MIDDLE    SETTLEMENT,    OSSABAW    ISLAND.  (ABOUT    FIVE-SEVENTHS   SIZE.) 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PHILAD.,   2ND    SER.,    VOL.    XI. 


.  :-.  XII. 


&m^-*,   , 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST   MOUNDS. 

VESSEL   AA.  MOUND   A,    MIDDLE    SETTLEMENT,    OSSABAW    ISLAND.  (ABOUT    TWO-THIRDS    SIZE. 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PHILAD.,    2ND    SER.,    VOL.    XI. 


PLATE    XIII. 


MOORE:   GEORGIA  COAST   MOUNDS. 

1.      VESSEL   II.  2.      VESSEL    I.  BOTH    MOUND   A,    MIDDLE    SETTLEMENT,    OStABAW    ISLAND.  <FULL   SIZE. I 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PHILAD.,   2ND    SER..    VOL.    XI. 


PLAT! 


MOORE:   GEORGIA  COAST   MOUNDS. 

1.  VESSEL    LL.  MOUND    A,     MIDDLE    SETTLEMENT.     OSSABAW    ISLAND.  (FULL    SIZE.  I 

2.  VESSEL    O.  MOUND    D,     MIDDLE    SETTLEMENT,    OSSABAW    ISLAND.  (FULL    SIZE.) 


JOURN.    ACAD.    NAT.    SCI.    PHILAD.,    ^ND    SER.,    VOL.    XI. 


PLATE    XV. 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST    MOUNDS. 


JOURN.   ACAD.    NAT.   SCI.    PHILAD.,  2ND   SER.,  VOL.    XI. 


PLATE   XVI. 


MOORE:   GEORGIA   COAST   MOUNDS. 

DIAGRAM    OF    INCISED    DECORATION    ON    VESSEL   OF    EARTHENWARE.  WALKER    MOUND.  'NINE-TENTHS   SIZE.) 


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